An imagined future community: Taiwan Biobank, Taiwanese genome, and nation-building

Abstract

Based on the concept of an imagined future community, this article analyzes the relationship between the establishment of a national biobank (Taiwan Biobank) and nation-building. This article examines (1) the shift in state policy from pursuing a Sci-Tech Island to an Island of Biomedical Technology for the purpose of strengthening the national economy and Taiwan’s global competitiveness in biomedicine, (2) the discourses about the uniqueness of the Taiwanese genome as a niche in the competitive global biomedical market, and (3) scientists’ imaginary of the necessity of a national genetic project for the health of Taiwan’s future generations. By exploring how the discourse of the Taiwanese genome as a niche has been constructed, this article reveals that life science and scientists’ imaginary of the futurity who have played important roles in Taiwan’s nation-building. We argue that the future imaginaries contained in the scientific discourse regarding Taiwan Biobank reflect the ideas of global scientific competition, connections between genetic distinctness and nationality, and the health of future generations in Taiwan.