Between 1982 and 1985, Li was Minister without Portfolio. Together with Minister of Economic Affairs Chao Yao-tung and Premier Y.S. Sun, they formed an "iron triangle." Because of their technological backgrounds and emphasis on domestic technological development, they were called the "Technology Cabinet."
民國七十一年到七十四年，李國鼎任政務委員，與經濟部長趙耀東，配合行政院長孫運璿，形成「鐵三角」陣容，由於三人的科技背景加上重視台灣科技發展，被稱為「科技內閣」。