Industry Liaison Office, National Taiwan University

The 2024 Taiwan Healthcare+ Expo will be held from December 5th (Thursday) to 8th (Sunday) at the Nangang Exhibition Center. National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) and National Taiwan University (NTU) will proudly present its achievements in applying advanced technologies to the healthcare domain. Organized by the Taiwan Bio Industry Organization, this grand event provides professionals with an opportunity to explore the latest developments in medical technology, setting the direction for future advancements in healthcare both domestically and internationally. NTUH and NTU will showcase 14 and 10 outstanding achievements respectively based on cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI, virtual reality, and intelligent systems.         National Taiwan University, in collaboration with National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Chang Gung University, and Ming Chi University of Technology, presents 10 diverse research achievements. These include advancements in artificial intelligence learning systems, next-generation medical materials and drug development, and precision medical diagnostic technologies etc. The participating teams are led by The Global Industry Platform of the NTU System, which unites NTU, NTUST, NTNU, CGU, and MCUT. By integrating inter-university research strengths, the platform serves as a bridge between academia and industry, leveraging research and development capabilities to drive Taiwan's industrial growth.     Applications of Generative AI The Health Management Center (HMC) presents "Health Management 4.0: Use Health Data Wisely to Build Your Superpower", which applys wearble devices to collect personal health data and establish the heatlh database. The records are further used to construct chronic disease risk prediction models, which aims to diagnose the disease in preclinical stage or even predict the risk of occurence. The NTUH Telehealth Center has developed the 'Automated Nursing Record Model for Telehealth Dialogues,' which integrates speech-to-text and semantic analysis technologies. This model converts phone conversations into transcripts and generates standardized nursing plans. It enhances operational efficiency, reduces errors, and is applicable to clinical scenarios such as patient care and emergency records. It enables real-time generation of nursing plans, reducing documentation time and prioritizing care decisions. The Medical Information Management Office organized a cross-disciplinary team and was the first in the country to apply localized large language model (LLM) to the disease classification auxiliary system. The system has been implemented in all branches of the National Taiwan University Hospital. The diagnostic prediction full code F-score reached 86.67%, providing the best analysis and applications of optimal DRG . Help certified coding specialists save working time. The system has been granted patents and received national innovation awards and is commercially licensed to other hospitals. “Application of Large Language Models in Medical Report Processing and Electronic Medical Record Consent Form Systems” in the Information Technology office can analyze unstructured information such as article images, automatically generate reports, and output relevant content. This reduces the need for manual judgment and data entry, minimizing repetitive paperwork and improving efficiency. Through the electronic signature feature for consent forms, the public can sign consent forms online both inside and outside the hospital, with real-time identity verification, reducing paper usage and enhancing process efficiency and information verification capabilities。Smart Critical Care Medicine project of the Department of Anesthesiology combines the advantages of Machine Learning (ML) and Large Language Models (LLM). After a patient is admitted to the ICU, ML first quickly provides mortality risk predictions and weights of risk factors. Then, LLM further analyzes the risks, lists potential causes of illness, and recommends examinations and treatments based on severity and urgency. It develops follow-up plans and provides real-time, personalized optimal treatment solutions for patients through continuous integration of multiple data sources. The Center of Intelligent Healthcare's "Medical AI Generative Model" showcased a series of generative large language model systems specifically designed for the medical field at this exhibition. These include the X-ray Analysis System, which automatically generates standardized reports, the Pathology Report Summarization System, which enhances efficiency, and the Report Generation System, which simplifies the report creation process. Together, these innovations aim to advance medical intelligence and precision.     Immersive XR Applications The Department of Surgery at National Taiwan University Hospital has introduced the "Metaverse Surgical Simulation Platform: Single-Port Thoracoscopic Surgery Wound Position Selection" combines patient CT scans with 3D image reconstruction technology and game engines to create an operable virtual reality (VR) environment. It is anticipated that appropriate preoperative simulations using the metaverse surgical simulation system can enhance the accuracy of wound position selection, thereby reducing surgery duration. In the future, this technology could be applied to a wider range of medical fields, providing new perspectives and tools for training future surgical residents.   Also featured in the same exhibition is "Extended Reality for Invasive Treatment and Surgical Training," which has become a key highlight. This innovative technology, centered on Extended Reality (XR), utilizes 3D imaging technology to accurately present neck anatomy. It combines high-fidelity models, haptic feedback controllers, and dynamic simulations to create an immersive training environment. This not only helps surgeons master essential skills but also significantly enhances learning efficiency and operational precision, ultimately improving patient safety. Additionally, this virtual model demonstrates ethical and environmental advantages by replacing traditional plastic or animal models, significantly reducing the use of physical resources and lowering training costs. It aligns with the sustainable development goals of modern medical education, paving the way for safer, more efficient, and eco-friendly medical training in the future.   The Department of Emergency Medicine's "HoloXMed" system is a groundbreaking innovation that provides more precise and intuitive educational and diagnostic tools designed specifically for medical education and healthcare services. By leveraging advanced technologies such as augmented reality (AR), 3D visualization, and real-time data integration, "HoloXMed" enhances the learning process for medical trainees and supports healthcare professionals with accurate diagnostic assistance in clinical settings. In 2024, this revolutionary system received the prestigious Edison Award, a globally recognized accolade for excellence in innovation, symbolizing its significant contribution to the field of medical technology. It secured the Gold Award in the "Cutting-Edge Tools" subcategory under the Engineering and Robotics category, reflecting its exceptional impact in transforming medical education and practice through innovative solutions.     Innovative Technology Applications Department of Pediatrics “ Using Human Factors Engineering to Improve Infant Formula Preparation Workflow” The first semi-automated milk preparation device “Ergonomic milk dispenser” , designed through human factors engineering and 3D printing technique, effectively improved the workflow, replaced manual repetitive tasks, significantly reduced occupational injuries, and increased efficiency. This innovative device has obtained a patent in Taiwan and Gold Award of 2023 National Healthcare Quality Award. "Pulmonary Valve Restoration Team for Congenital Heart Disease" Addressing pulmonary regurgitation after congenital heart disease surgery, our team has pioneered the introduction of transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVI) technology, achieving a remarkable milestone of over 100 successful cases nationwide. This breakthrough has also led to the implementation of National Health Insurance coverage. Our innovative approach has garnered widespread recognition at international conferences and live catheterization demonstrations.   The Ethics Center's「Research Ethic Committee  Application and Review Management」enhances the convenience, work efficiency, and quality for the application, review, and management processes. The iLab system integrates management requirements for personnel, equipment, materials, procedures, and environment, utilizing automation for oversight. Managers can access site information anytime through mobile devices, enabling real-time decision-making, regulatory compliance, and crisis management, all dedicated to ensuring the safety of laboratory environments. Department of Emergency Medicine 「Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Acute Myocardial Infarction: Combining Nanogoldsomes and Optofluidic Catheter to Reduce Reperfusion Injury」This innovative myocardial infarction (MI) medical technology combines a nanomedicine and an optical microfluidic cardiac catheter. It has demonstrated, for the first time, the local and rapid generation of nitric oxide and glutathione. Animal experiments conducted in a pig MI model have shown a reduction in myocardial necrosis and apoptosis. This achievement has earned recognition with a 2024 American Heart Association (AHA) international award.     The 2024 Taiwan Healthcare+ Expo is not only a platform for industry exchange but also a beacon of hope for the future of healthcare technology in Taiwan. As a leading institution, NTUH is committed to advancing medical innovation and providing superior healthcare services. We sincerely invite you to witness the boundless potential of Taiwan’s medical technology and the ingenuity of NTU’s research teams!

From July 25 to July 29, 2024, the BIO Asia-Taiwan Exhibition will be grandly held at Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1. The Global Industry Platform of NTU System (T5GIP), consisting of National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, Chang Gung University, and Ming Chi University of Technology, will join forces with National Taiwan University Hospital and the NTU SPARK Program to showcase innovative technologies and research in the fields of biotechnology and medical care. This exhibition aims to give the public a glimpse into the research capabilities of these institutions.   The T5GIP pavilion will feature themes such as "Presentation of Cutting-edge Innovative Technologies," "Advanced Medical Devices and New Drug Development," and "Diverse Applications of AI in Biomedicine." Units and laboratories within the system are invited to share and demonstrate various innovative frontier technologies and research.         For instance, innovative technologies such as using popular virtual reality to solve medical challenges in remote areas and applying AI in endoscopic microscopy systems will be showcased. Other innovations include piezoelectric bone nails that stimulate stem cells to enhance bone regeneration, biomimetic dismutase colloidal compounds for eliminating solid tumors and reducing neurodegeneration, and bioabsorbable bone adhesive tapes with superior biocompatibility and high adhesion, all showcasing new possibilities in future medical care.         Additionally, there will be smart sensor and laser-guided shoes combining plantar pressure and inertial sensing detection, the development of a speech therapy app " Speak Fluently: Speech screening assessment " that is not limited by geography, and an AI-assisted generative intelligent disease classification coding system that ensures the security and privacy of information and medical records. These exhibits highlight the convenience and advancement of modern technology combined with clinical medicine.     Besides static posters and product displays that fully demonstrate the deep strength and rich experience of each school in scientific research innovation and technology transformation, the platform will also feature dynamic stage interactions. Team leaders and mentors will be invited to give speeches, vividly sharing their achievements with the public, further bridging technology and products with the market and the public, creating the most professional and diverse pavilion.     After the exhibition, T5GIP will continue to promote the application and technology transfer of various research achievements and strive to enhance cooperation between academia and industry. We look forward to showcasing more innovative technologies in the future, jointly promoting the development of Taiwan's biotechnology industry.

The 2023 Healthcare Expo Taiwan took place from November 30 to December 3 at the Nangang Exhibition Center. The National Taiwan University showcased 28 research teams within the topics of "Precision Medicine, Cutting-edge Medical Technology, Metaverse Technology.", bringing together professionals from industry, government, and academia to foster new developments in the medical industry.         The teams of National Taiwan University were led by the Global Industry Platform Platform (T5GIP, composed of National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, Chang Gung University, and Ming Chi University of Technology). 18 research teams were brought from National Taiwan University and Ming Chi University of Technology, fostering diverse and cross-school collaborations with National Taiwan University Hospital. The exhibited projects aligned with the three main themes, showcasing technologies such as AI-based precise scanning, interpretation, and prediction; research trends in smart devices for remote and personalized healthcare; rapid testing-oriented models to streamline examination procedures; and innovation in high-end medical materials driven by new technologies. The interdisciplinary links displayed the infinite potential for the future of Taiwan's medical industry, aiming to consolidate advanced industry-academia strength and continuously nurture Taiwan's medical ecosystem.         A special focus of National Taiwan University was showcasing the topic on Metaverse Technology. Teams from National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital incorporated Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies to meet research and clinical needs. This included rapid diagnosis and analysis of disease images, virtual applications for remote treatment, and model training for disease risk assessment. Technology served as a medical assistant, providing more effective assistance and evaluation for patients in terms of data aggregation and diagnostic decisions. In precision medicine, research on personalized cell therapy aimed to provide tailored treatment for patients, heralding a new era of personalized precision medicine. The National Taiwan University Hospital also introduced the "Personal Health Record and Disease Risk Analysis Platform," using wearable and mobile devices to collect personal health data, combining it with health examination data to establish personal health records. Utilizing big data and artificial intelligence machine learning, they constructed models for predicting the risks of chronic diseases. In the field of cutting-edge medical technology, next-generation sequencing addressed challenges in drug-gene identification, integrating smart medication into the National Taiwan University Hospital electronic medical record medical decision support system. Additionally, the development of a smart gene mutation interpretation system, combining machine learning and clinical research, aimed to enhance the precise diagnosis of genetic and challenging diseases.     The National Taiwan University showcased a variety of innovations at the 2023 Healthcare Expo Taiwan, providing an opportunity for research teams to engage closely with the public and understand market needs. Through this four-day event and interactions with various experts and scholars, NTU aimed to contribute to the creation of a thriving ecosystem for Taiwan's medical industry, characterized by continuous growth and positive cycles.

National Taiwan University is dedicated to promoting industry-academia collaboration and nurturing outstanding young talents. On December 14th and 15th, during the 2023 NBRP Pitch Day, six teams from NTU advanced to the final round among the 50 participating teams. They engaged in selection meetings, showcasing their research and development achievements to investors and exchanging knowledge with teams from across Taiwan. The National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office actively participates in industry-academia linkages and startup initiatives, encouraging continuous development of academic research teams. As a sponsor of the 2023 NBRP Pitch Day, the office takes practical actions to support and contribute to the future development of aspiring students.    

On December 8th, the Global Industry Platform of NTU System (T5GIP), the Industry Liaison Office, and the Center of Industry-Academia Collaboration at National Taiwan University jointly hosted a patent exhibition and technical presentation event centered on chemical engineering and materials. This platform brings together five member universities: National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, Chang Gung University, and Ming Chi University of Technology. Leveraging geographical advantages and complementary expertise, this initiative fosters collaboration across universities, disciplines, and industries. Over the years, these five universities have utilized collaborative patents and technology licensing to assist companies in overcoming challenges in research development and commercialization, driving industrial advancements. They also actively support government startup policies, encouraging research teams to establish new companies, resulting in fruitful achievements. Chung-Chih Wu, VP of the Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU, expressed in his opening remarks, "The research and development capacity of universities has been growing steadily, resulting in a considerable number of patents and associated maintenance costs. To effectively utilize these intellectual assets, we organized this event, aiming to facilitate connections between businesses and technology, thereby creating a win-win situation for academia and industry."     Photo 1: Chung-Chih Wu, VP of the Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU, giving opening remarks     In recent years, the chemical engineering and material industry have seen an emergence of talents. Through collaborations in academic research, product development, and interdisciplinary partnerships, the industry has accumulated significant capacity. This event attracted professionals from the industry, patent agents, and investors, providing a platform for members to present the technical features and potential commercial value of their patents. The goal was to facilitate industry-academia collaboration and technology transfer, offering practical applications for innovative research. Furthermore, the event featured three presentations by Professor Lu Chung-Hsin and Professor Hsien-Yeh Chen from the Department of Chemical Engineering, and Professor Hsuen-Li Chen from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at National Taiwan University. It is hoped to spark discussions and communications and foster comprehensive plans and strategies in technology development and patents.       Photo 2: Group photo of event speakers and guests     This event integrated the strengths of the five universities, showcasing the research capacity and innovative accomplishments in chemical engineering and materials. It also aimed to infuse new vitality into the industry and inspire fresh perspectives. The event was filled with enthusiastic discussions and exchanges, successfully creating more possibilities and opportunities for development and business between academia and industry, enhancing the depth and breadth of industry-academia cooperation and development.    

In recent years, the threats and impacts of climate change have become increasingly severe, prompting many countries to list sustainable development as a key policy in response to the “Net Zero Emissions by 2050” target. National Taiwan University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology held a webinar on September 20th with the subject “Harmonizing Sustainability: Exploring ESG and Net Zero Emissions”. Experts from both universities were invited to share their experiences and research from various fields. Professor Chung-Chih Wu, Director of the Industry Liaison Office and VP of the Office of Research and Development at NTU, stated in his welcome address, “The topic of sustainable development concerns everyone. However, the challenges in the pursuit of sustainability are intricate and vary across domains. It requires collaborative efforts, which involve governments, corporations, industries, and individuals like all of us, to make changes.”     Photo 1: Group photo of workshop speakers and guests     The webinar explored the challenges and solutions from various perspectives, including finance, industry-academia collaboration, and technological development. Dr. Gita R. Rao, Senior Lecturer in Finance at MIT, first shared her extensive experience in ESG and impact investing. As the landscape of ESG continues to evolve, companies and investors face increasing challenges in addressing climate change, workplace trends, regulations, and more. Dr. Rao specifically discussed the demand for water resources and renewable energy in certain Taiwanese industries and highlighted the opportunities for overcoming these challenges. Dr. Jeremy Gregory, the Executive Director of the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium, then shared MIT's successful experience in integrating academic innovation with industry practices to form strategic partnerships and advance sustainable development, mitigate climate change, and formulate effective solutions.     In the second half of the webinar, two professors from NTU presented their research on sustainable technology. With the growing demand for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries in recent years, safety has become a paramount concern. Professor Nae-Lih Wu from the Department of Chemical Engineering at NTU introduced his research on a surface-modifying coating approach, proposing a technology that combines high performance with safety for lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, Associate Professor Shu-Yuan Pan from the Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering at NTU shared his research findings on the cascade separation processes for fit-for-purpose wastewater reclamation. He illustrated the applications of these processes using examples such as piggery wastewater, brackish process wastewater, and industrial effluent.     The event moderator Professor Hwong-Wen Ma from the Graduate Institute of Environment Engineering at NTU made the following conclusion at the end of the event, “Now is a critical time for industry transformation. ESG and achieving net zero emissions are races against time. We need to make structural changes. Speakers from NTU shared innovations in energy storage and resource recycling technology, while MIT speakers shared their experiences in infusing capital resources into sustainable development. The presentations from these four speakers demonstrated diverse perspectives and practices in technology, systems, and management. The path to sustainable development is filled with challenges, and it is only through the cooperation of capital, technology, talent, and knowledge, as well as interdisciplinary partnerships, that we can find solutions.” The event showed the challenges and potential of achieving sustainability across various fields and opened up numerous opportunities for collaboration through communications among industry, academia, and research institutions.  

With the development of technologies such as big data, cloud infrastructure, and semiconductors, artificial intelligence has made revolutionary breakthroughs in many domains. On August 10, National Taiwan University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology invited experts from both institutions to focus on generative artificial intelligence in an online seminar, exploring its innovations and potential applications. The event gathered over four hundred attendees from industries, academia, and research organizations. In his welcome speech, Professor Chung-Chih Wu, Director of the Industry Liaison Office and VP of the Office of Research and Development, NTU, expressed his recognition of the vigorous development of artificial intelligence, saying: "Research in AI has grown rapidly in the past few years. It is undoubtedly the core technology of many technologies. Generative AI has already changed our lives. The future applications are beyond our imagination. We need interdisciplinary collaboration and communication to further the development of AI, which is the driving force behind today's seminar."     Photo 1: Group photo of workshop speakers and guests     The seminar started with a presentation by Armando Solar-Lezama, Distinguished College of Computing Professor in the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, MIT. He talked about his research in programming with learning, which involves a combination of data, natural language, and interactive engagement with the system. He further explored the challenges and techniques of keeping the advantages, including modularity, maintainability, and extensibility when replacing the traditional approach of producing software with large neural networks. Next, Yoon Kim, Assistant Professor from MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, discussed the new paradigm in natural language processing heralded by large language models. As such natural language processing models are resource-intensive, he thus introduced his work in improving the training and deployment efficiency of large language models.     In the second half of the seminar, Associate Professor Hung-Yi Lee from the Department of Electrical Engineering, NTU presented his latest research on the speech version of ChatGPT. He discussed how to enable machine learning and build speech language models by using extensive voice data. He also introduced the applications and outlined the challenges and potential solutions. Following this, Professor Hsuan-Tien Lin from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, NTU discussed the recent attention from the academia and industry on generative models caused by their exceptional ability to produce high-quality images. Professor Lin elaborated on his research in improving the controllability of generative models. He also shared some design strategies to facilitate successful conditional generation.     During the seminar, the four experts presented diverse perspectives on the development of generative AI, offering insights and inspiration across disciples. The moderator, Professor Yu-Chiang Wang from the Department of Electrical Engineering, NTU, said in his conclusion, "The captivating presentations by the speakers and the enthusiastic exchanges among participants and speakers have opened up numerous possibilities for communications and collaboration." This event is more than a convergence of professional knowledge. It is also a bridge connecting academia, industry, and research institutes, which is expected to bring more innovative sparks in AI research and application.    

The Global Industry Platform of NTU System (T5GIP), comprising National Taiwan University (NTU), National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), Chang Gung University (CGU), and Ming Chi University of Technology (MCUT), teamed up with NTU Hospital and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital participating in the 2023 BIO Asia-Taiwan exhibition. This year, the platform’s pavilion centers around the theme "Empower Diversity to Prosperity," showcasing innovative technologies and research power in the fields of biotechnology, healthcare, agriculture, etc. A total of 40 impressive and diverse technologies and vibrant on-site stage presentations attracted a continuous stream of visitors to the pavilion. Not only the leaders and professors from the platform and hospitals attended the opening ceremony and showed support to the pavilion, but also Deputy Minister Yi-Juang Chern of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and Director General Andrea T. J. Hsu of the Department of Academia-Industry Collaboration and Science Park Affairs of NSTC encouraged the pavilion on-site for the team's future performance.     Photo 1: (from left) Associate Vice President of the Office of Research and Development of NTNU Cheng-Hung Lin; Dean of the Office of Industry-Academia Collaboration of NTUST Chang-Fa Yang; CGU’s Vice President Chih-Wei Yang; MCUT’s President Thu-Hwa Liu; NTU's Executive Vice President Shih-Torng Ding; NTU's Executive Vice President Shan-Chwen Chang; NTU's Dean of the College of Medicine Yen-Hsuan Ni; NTU Hospital's Superintendent Ming-Hsiang Wu; NTU's Deputy Vice President for Research and Development Hsueh-Fen Juan.   The opening ceremony of the pavilion on the first day welcomed the representative guests from the platform and hospital including NTU's Executive Vice President Shih-Torng Ding and Shan-Chwen Chang, Deputy Vice President for Research and Development Hsueh-Fen Juan, the Dean of the College of Medicine Yen-Hsuan Ni, NTU Hospital's Superintendent Ming-Hsiang Wu, MCUT’s President Thu-Hwa Liu, CGU’s Vice President Chih-Wei Yang, the Dean of the Office of Industry-Academia Collaboration of NTUST Chang-Fa Yang, and the Associate Vice President of the Office of Research and Development of NTNU Cheng-Hung Lin, etc. The guest expressed their expectations of the pavilion and complimented the continuous efforts of the teams.     Photo 2: On-site photo of the pavilion.     T5GIP encompasses comprehensive, technical, educational, and research-oriented universities. The technologies showcased this time span diverse fields. Highlights include a testing chip that provides results in as short as half an hour, breaking away from traditional time-consuming analyses; trends in smart agriculture created through the combination of various technologies, aiming to benefit aging agricultural societies; and the development of targeted pain relief medications for diseases not yet addressed in the market. In addition, the NTU’s College of Bioresources and Agriculture, Experimental Forest, Promotion Center of Precision Medicine, Drug Research Center, SPARK, College of Medicine, and NTU Hospital all joined hands in the exhibition, collectively promoting research technologies and industry-academia collaboration.     Photo 3: Audience were attracted by the vivid speech from the pavilion.     Beyond technology and product displays, the team also utilized the pavilion's stage space for delivering the latest achievements to the audience. The vivid speeches, open-stage design, and interactive question-and-answer sessions drew crowds to presentations. This not only invisibly enhances the image of the pavilion’s dedicated effort but also presents an excellent opportunity for the team to connect with the market. Furthermore, T5GIP planned career exploration lectures for university students, allowing them to observe market developments through exhibition visits, engage in in-depth exchanges with research teams, and interact with industry veterans to understand industry trends, which aims to nurture the next generation of outstanding talents.    

On June 14th, the FinTech Research Center at NTU and the Industry Liaison Office of National Taiwan University organized a successful forum on "Developments and Applications of ChatGPT in Finance and Business." Nearly 200 professionals, including scholars, industry experts, and business leaders, participated in this grand event, collectively exploring the potential and challenges of ChatGPT in the fields of finance and business.     Photo 1: Group photo of speakers and guests     Since its rapid rise in late 2022, ChatGPT has garnered widespread attention and interest. It shows great importance not only for financial technology and various business sectors but also triggers revolutionary impacts across industries. Distinguished Professor Chung-Chih Wu, VP of the Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU, said in his opening remarks, "AI technology has made astonishing advancements over the past decade. Compared to other AI techniques, ChatGPT has a more direct and impactful effect on general users. It has created numerous opportunities, enhancing work efficiency and accelerating digital transformation for users and businesses. However, it also brings concerns and risks regarding cybersecurity, ethics, and legal aspects. New technologies require new responses, and this is precisely why we organized this forum." Director Chu-Song Chen from the FinTech Research Center at NTU also mentioned: “We hope to take advantage of this sensation and gather the views of experts and scholars to bring innovative thinking, so that ChatGPT can be applied in different business to develop more specific applications.”     Photo 2: Active participation from the industry     The first half of the forum covered several speeches. Associate Professor Yun-Nung Chen of the Dept. of Computer Science and Information Engineering, NTU began by discussing the recent advancements in generative AI and how to enhance the user experience of ChatGPT. She also addressed technical difficulties such as data leakage and misinformation prevention. Professor Morgan M.H. Hsieh, Director of the Risk and Insurance Research Center at National Chengchi University discussed the importance of digital transformation for organizations and shared several successful case studies. Following that, Jyh-Shing Jang, CTO of E.Sun Financial Holding Company, explored the current applications of generative AI in the financial industry and the challenges it faces. Shou-De Lin, Chief Scientist at Appier Inc., discussed how organizations can determine the scope of AI applications, establish implementation processes, and evaluate effectiveness from various types of business perspectives. Lastly, Victor Kuan, Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company and former Chairman of Citibank Taiwan, delved into how AI can provide integrated and customized services from a customer-centric standpoint while optimizing cost-efficiency and employee productivity for operations to achieve smart finance.     Photo 3: Speakers exchange opinions at the panel discussion     Furthermore, all speakers participated in a panel discussion moderated by Director Chu-Song Chen. They engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions regarding the challenges of implementing ChatGPT and various AI technologies in enterprise applications. The speakers shared valuable practical experiences and insights while actively exchanging opinions. The forum successfully demonstrated the potential of AI technology in finance and business, promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. It also showed the importance of integrating technological research with industry needs. Through close industry-academia cooperation, National Taiwan University aims to amplify the benefits of this forum and continue working hand in hand with scholars, industry experts, and business leaders to foster more innovative applications and technological breakthroughs.  

National Taiwan University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology teamed up on April 20 to host an online workshop “Building a Sustainable and Resilient Future: Navigating Global Challenges with Innovative Technology". The workshop brought together experts from both institutions to discuss how the latest technology can be leveraged to tackle the global challenges of sustainability and resilience during a time of increasingly scarce resources and rapid environmental changes. “The world is facing unprecedented challenges,” said Distinguished Professor Chung-Chih Wu, VP of the Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU. “It is becoming increasingly clear that it requires collaborative efforts to find solutions. Technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship have the potential to play a significant role in addressing these complex problems and creating a sustainable and resilient future for all.”     Photo 1: Group photo of workshop speakers and guests     Assistant Professor Rafael Gomez-Bombarelli from the Department of Material Science and Engineering, MIT, kicked off the event by discussing AI-driven design of materials for energy and sustainability. Dr. Gomez-Bombarelli explained how computational techniques, such as atomistic simulation and machine learning, can be used to rapidly invent new materials and navigate this enormous space. He also presented the current progress of his research group in enabling end-to-end materials design for multiple materials classes and applications. Next, Dr. John Carrier, Senior Lecture in System Dynamics at the MIT Sloan School of Management talked about developing a resilient organization for sustainability. He emphasized the importance of an organization's ability to react, respond, and recover from short-term shocks, and how the development of new resilient capabilities can lead to a more sustainable future. Dr. Carrier also discussed how hidden factories in an organization may be exploited to simultaneously reduce risk, increase profitability and resilience, and improve organizational culture.     In the second half of the workshop, Professor Yeali Sun from the Department of Information Management, NTU, presented on measuring the quality of Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) documents through malware attack pattern matching. Dr. Sun discussed how the increasing prevalence of cyber threats poses a significant challenge for organizations, and how the quality of CTI is crucial in mitigating these threats. She then shared her research on finding automated and reliable methods for evaluating the quality of CTI documents. Next, Assistant Professor Yi-Pei Li from the Department of Chemical Engineering, NTU gave a talk focusing on deep learning in chemical design and property prediction. He discussed how recent advances in deep neural networks have led to the development of models with remarkable accuracy for chemical design and property predictions, and how these models can be applied in various fields, including retrosynthesis, drug discovery, and material developments. He also discussed how the accuracy and applicability of these models depend on the quality and quantity of available data, and how deliberate design of deep neural network architecture and active and transfer learning strategies can improve model generalizability.     The online workshop brought together a diverse group of attendees, including researchers, academics, students, and professionals. It provided a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. The success of this event opened up a dialogue between NTU and MIT on solving global challenges and also laid the foundation for possible future cooperation.  

Due to the change in climate, manpower structure, food demand, and other factors, every agricultural-producing country has been applying smart technologies to farming, including sensors, robotics, IoT, data integration and analysis, in an attempt to provide solutions to increase the quantity and quality of products and maximize the resource efficiency. Industry Liaison Office, National Taiwan University held an online workshop “Smart Agriculture: The Applications of Advanced Digital, Nano and Biological Technologies” on December 15 and invited experts from National Taiwan University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to present their research results and exchange communications. Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU said in his opening speech, “Based on a more precise and efficient approach, smart farming is expected to be the future of agriculture. Today we have professors from different disciplines including chemical, mechanical, and biomechatronics engineering. In their talks, they will show us how we can put modern technologies to practical use and build a more productive and sustainable agricultural industry from different perspectives.”       Photo 1: Group photo of workshop speakers and guests     The workshop opened with Michael S. Strano, Carbon P. Dubbs Professor in Chemical Engineering, MIT. Professor Strano talked about the sustainable technology of precision agriculture. In response to the increasing population and decreasing farmland, urban agriculture has become an important development of food production. His research team focuses on developing nano and optical sensors to measure plant metabolites in real-time and study the production of plant hormones and secondary metabolites to improve urban farming, and develop disruptive technologies for discovering plant biosynthetic pathways. Next, Amos Winter, Ratan N. Tata Assoc. Professor in Mechanical Engineering, MIT talked about his research on low-energy, renewable-powered, low-cost smart irrigation and desalination. Take India as an example, due to the scarcity of fresh, potable groundwater and the unreliability of the electric grid in many parts of the area, Professor Winter’s team is developing solar energy-powered, low-cost and low-power drip irrigation systems which deliver water through a piping network that release the water directly to the base of the crops, reducing water consumption by 20~60% compared to conventional irrigation. As irrigation accounts for over 70% of freshwater use, large-scale adoption of drip irrigation would reduce the consumption of freshwater. It not only would assist agricultural development, but also ensure a sufficient supply of fresh water.     In the second half of the workshop, Shih-Fang Chen, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomechatronics Engineering and Chief of the Research Section, Center for Intelligent Agriculture, NTU talked about how to utilize artificial intelligence in agriculture. Professor Chen's research goal is to use modern technology to replace intense labor with automation, and to learn expert experience with artificial intelligence. She uses tea as the research subject, covering topics from the image-based tea leaf monitoring system, spectral image monitoring of large fields for harvest prediction, development of plant disease identification and prescription suggestion system, and tea grading system. It helps farmers achieve early detection and early treatment, reduce losses and improve quality in the whole process. Next, Lin-Chi Chen, Deputy Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of the Department of Biomechatronics Engineering, NTU talked about connecting electrochemical sensor chips to AI and IoT for smart agriculture. Using the concept of electrochemistry, Professor Chen connects information with chemical signals or biological signals and applies ion sensors in hydroponics or soil farming to provide chemical information that cannot be seen by the naked eye for more precise plant nutrition management and achieve precision agriculture. Professor Chen's research team overcame the previous challenges of large and costly ion sensors, successfully integrated information with mobile phones, and developed a “Smart Multiplex Ion Detection” system. Professor Chen also introduced a smart nutrient solution monitoring system “Multiplex Ion Sensor IoT for PFs”, which can be applied to plant factories and also to fields with large changes in natural sunlight temperature and humidity. It can monitor the change of nutrient solution ions, creating various potentials for future agriculture.     Professor Lin-chi Chen, who is also the moderator of the workshop, concluded the event with the following remarks. The two MIT professors, from the perspective of the global agriculture industry, proposed solutions to meet food demand from two aspects: precision agriculture and low water and energy consumption. The two professors from NTU combined biomechanical, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to provide smart agricultural technology that reduces manpower and costs, and improves yield and quality with technologies such as image interpretation, machine learning, and sensors. This workshop demonstrated the importance of interdisciplinary research in solving world problems. In the face of the potential food shortage in the world, only the integration of advanced technologies from various fields can bring more development possibilities for smart and precision agriculture.

Since the Industry Liaison Office (ILO) of the National Taiwan University and the Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) of Massachusetts Institute of Technology signed a cooperative agreement in 2021, physical meetings and communicative exchanges have been delayed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The first visit to MIT was finally realized In November 2022. The group consisted of Professor Pai-Chi Li, Vice President for the Office of Research and Development, and Director for the ILO, NTU, Professor Jiun-Haw Lee, Associate Vice President for International Affairs and Deputy Director for AUO-NTU Joint Research Center, Grace Chang, CEO for the NTU ILO and ILO Laureate Member, AUO Corporation. Both parties discussed the potential models of cross-university and transnational collaboration and a diverse blueprint for future cooperation.     Photo 1: NTU visiting Group with Associate Provost of MIT after their meeting (From left to right: Graham G Rong, Program Director of MIT ILP, Professor Jiun-Haw Lee, Associate Vice President for International Affairs and Deputy Director of AUO-NTU Joint Research Center, Richard Lester, Associate Provost of MIT, Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development and Director of NTU ILO, Grace Chang, CEO of NTU ILO)     The primary focus of this trip was the 2022 MIT Research and Development Conference. During the two-day conference, MIT researchers and startups presented advanced technologies and solutions to some of the world’s crucial problems. The conference also included MIT partners in industry and government sharing global trends, national policies and development directions, as well as several tracks of sessions. Through participating in various activities such as workshops, laboratory tours, and faculty meetings, NTU visiting group discussed with MIT how to establish industrial links, and cooperation opportunities for forward-looking technologies and new ventures. The delegation also met with Richard Lester, Associate Provost of MIT to explore the possibilities of cross-university and industry partnerships, with the common goal of establishing a transnational ecosystem to enforce the relationships, and further expand the exchange programs of professors and students, co-creation of courses, international communications, etc.     Photo 2: NTU visiting group at 2022 MIT Research and Development Conference (From left to right: Professor Jiun-Haw Lee, Associate Vice President for International Affairs and Deputy Director of AUO-NTU Joint Research Center, Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development and Director of NTU ILO, Graham G Rong, Program Director of MIT ILP, Grace Chang, CEO of NTU ILO, and Chao-Hsien Lin, Senior Engineer, Display R&D of a.u. Vista Inc.)     Another important task of this trip is to promote the ACED Fab Program signed by Taiwan National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and USA National Science Foundation (NSF). Since the signing of the Taiwan-USA Science and Technology Agreement (STA) in December 2020, NSTC and NSF have selected semiconductors as the focused industry and signed an Implementation Agreement in August 2022. NTU visiting group met with the MIT research team and Todd S Glickman, Senior Director of Corporate Relations, and John C Roberts, Executive Director, MIT Corporate Relations of MIT ILP to discuss the ACED Fab program. It is hoped that with MIT’s relationship and influence on its internal research groups and the external industries, MIT will encourage more proposals for the program, adding new momentum to the semiconductor industry for both parties and creating breakthroughs together.     Photo 3: NTU’s visit to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston (From left to right: Dr. Mong-Hsun Tsai, Director of the Science and Technology Division of NTSC office in Boston,  Professor Jiun-Haw Lee, Associate Vice President for International Affairs and Deputy Director of AUO-NTU Joint Research Center, Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development and Director of NTU ILO, Jonathan C. Y. Sun, Director-General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston, and Grace Chang, CEO of NTU ILO)     In addition, the NTU visiting delegation also met with Jonathan C. Y. Sun, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston, and Dr. Mong-Hsun Tsai, Director of the Science and Technology Division of NTSC office in Boston. As the international exchanges have been resuming vigorously with the epidemic slowing down, the meeting hoped to bring the abundant resources of Taiwan's organizations in the United States to advance the cooperation in technological and student exchanges between Taiwan and the USA.     The visit to MIT has been fruitful. It not only established a smooth communication channel between the two top universities but also gained a better understanding of MIT’s thriving startup entrepreneurship culture. Moreover, it promoted the Taiwan-US cooperation program as well. With the successful conclusion of the visit, the affirmation of the intention of cooperation between NTU and MIT is of great significance. It is expected to make an important contribution to the promotion of future plans. Both parties will work closely together to lead this collaboration to fruition.

Quantum computer is one of the most forward-looking and promising topics worldwide. Its powerful computing advantages can accelerate the innovative applications of many technologies and bring revolutionary developments to the industry. Therefore, every major country is in full swing in the quantum computing competition, hoping to gain a place in this field. National Taiwan University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology held an online workshop "Quantum Computing: Opportunities and Challenges" on August 10. Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU said in his opening speech: "Quantum computing research is highly valued because it provides possibilities for groundbreaking, transformative solutions. The technologies can benefit various industries and set the stage for developing a broader spectrum of applications. How to commercialize the research work and apply them to the real world is just as important as the research work itself. The market size of quantum computing is projected to be over one billion US dollars by 2026, attracting many industry players and startups. In today’s workshop, hosted by the Industry Liaison Office, NTU, we have invited not only experts from MIT and NTU to talk about their research, but also two quantum startup companies to share their experiences in using advanced quantum technologies to develop innovative solutions and create business opportunities. While the research on quantum computing in Taiwan is in the early stage, the active investment of other countries in various quantum-related technologies has aroused the attention of domestic industries, prompting them to make plans to maintain a leading position.     Photo 1: Group photo of workshop speakers and guests     In the first half of the seminar, Dr. William D. Oliver, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Professor of Physics, and Director of Center for Quantum Engineering from MIT first introduced the development of quantum computers. Compared to classical computers, quantum computers potentially can solve complex problems in a wide range of fields, including finance, material science, pharmaceuticals, etc. It has a great impact on future information and economic development, hence the race of building a universal fault-tolerant quantum computer. Professor Oliver discussed different ways of building quantum computers, as well as their advantages, future potential, and challenges. Next, two quantum technology startups, Zapata Computing Inc. and Quantum Diamond Technologies, Inc. respectively shared their experiences in how they use quantum technologies in software and hardware to create new business models and opportunities and provided their unique services and products.     In the second half of the seminar, Professor Hsi-Sheng Goan from the Department of Physics, NTU, and the Director of IBM Quantum Hub at NTU introduced and analyzed the development and opportunities of quantum technology in Taiwan. Quantum computing is a new algorithm that requires talents and resources in a wide range of fields, including computer science, software engineering, mathematics, circuit design, and materials science. Since the Ministry of Science and Technology announced the decision to invest in quantum computers in 2018, hundreds of millions have been devoted to research and development annually. In 2020, the Ministry of Science and Technology further joined hands with the Academia Sinica and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and focused on topics including the components of quantum communication, the research platform of quantum computing and cryptography, hardware technology, core facilities, science promotion, and talent cultivation. Several national quantum R&D teams have been ensembled, with the target to build Taiwan's self-made quantum computers and communication network systems, which will drive the developments in chip manufacturing, packaging and testing, cooling systems, communication networks, software packages, cloud computing, financial technology, etc. It requires a huge amount of investment and talent to welcome the quantum era. Next, Professor Yuan Chung Cheng from the Department of Chemistry, NTU introduced the application of quantum computing in material design. The progress of materials science is an important part of historical evolution. However, the number of possibilities for chemical combinations is enormous. If quantum computing can simulate different chemical structures and compositions, and show the properties of the materials, the efficiency of material design can be greatly improved. Professor Cheng reviewed the latest achievements of quantum computing in materials science, including the basic principles of these revolutionary developments. He then proposed appropriate strategies for realizing the vision of quantum computing given the current predicament, hoping to utilize the powerful capabilities of quantum computing in the future and design novel materials to solve major problems in human society.     The moderator, Distinguished Professor of the Department of Physics, NTU, and the first Director of IBM Quantum Hub at NTU, Ching Ray Chang closed the workshop with the following remarks: "Today's workshop provides a comprehensive discussion on quantum computer hardware, software, and the developments in Taiwan. It is estimated that we will reach quantum ecology in ten to fifteen years, which means that everyone will be affected by it. The most important thing at the moment is to invest the required resources as soon as possible, to enhance our competitiveness, and to popularize the relevant knowledge of quantum technology.” The workshop attracted many researchers and industry experts from various fields to communicate with the speakers. The enthusiastic exchange and discussion not only reflects the importance of quantum technology but also is expected to create more sparks of industry-university collaboration.    

The technology industry is inseparable from the development of electronics. The imagination and design of various smart applications promote the development and breakthroughs of the electronics industry. Among them, the semiconductor is the core of industrial evolution. However, in recent years, factors such as political and trade wars, industrial innovation and development, and the COVID-19 pandemic have greatly changed the global supply chain, prompting countries to invest a huge amount of talent, material, and financial resources to actively develop electronic technology and build a local semiconductor industry chain. National Taiwan University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology organized an online workshop on May 12th and invited experts and scholars in this field from both universities to discuss their research results in electronics and semiconductor technologies. The workshop began with opening remarks from Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of the Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, National Taiwan University: "In the rapid development and transformation of technology, the electronics industry plays a key role. From artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, robotics technology to quantum computing, the success of emerging technologies depends on innovative research and design, which relies on research professionals continuing to overcome existing barriers.”     Group photo of NTU and MIT speakers and guests     In the workshop Dr. Rajeev Ram, Professor of Electrical Engineering, MIT, first talked about the computing with reduced power and increased speed required for the data era. While such advancements are increasingly hard to achieve with conventional CMOS logic, the CMOS ecosystem enables a host of devices beyond electronics, including native photonic components and systems. Dr. Ram presented universal photonic interfaces from data processing and sensing at the edge to high-performance classical and quantum computing at the core in his talk. Next, Dr. Kung-Yen Lee, Professor of the Department of Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, NTU, discussed the structural characteristics of Sic semiconductor, and the current challenges of the technology development of SiC semiconductor devices. Jeehwan Kim, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, MIT, introduced his research in developing methods to obtain cheap, flexible, stackable, single-crystalline inorganic systems. He discussed his strategies to realize such electronic system and how these strategies unlock new ways of manufacturing advanced electronic systems. Finally, Chia-Hsiang Yang, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, NTU, presented his research on data analysis chips for next-generation sequencing. Dr. Yang showed how to use lower power consumption and less time to accelerate DNA data analysis. He also presented a promising solution of a portable sequencing device.     The moderator, Jiun-Haw Lee, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, NTU concluded the workshop with the remarks: “Academic organizations are full of talents, like a treasure hub of knowledge. Today's workshop not only shares new knowledge but also promotes the development of research and development." Electronics-related and Semiconductor industries have always been the focus of economic development in Taiwan. The industry, government, and academia have invested a lot of resources to promote forward-looking technologies. Today’s workshop is organized with hopes to promote more exchanges between the industry and academia and create a win-win situation for the cooperation of the two parties.

In the past century, the increasing greenhouse effect and the decreasing of natural resources, the out-of-control carbon emissions or ecological crisis caused by economic development, uneven water resources or water pollution incidents, etc., have forced the world to face the issue of sustainable development. How to use green technology to improve the utilization and recovery rate of resources and energy and create a sustainable environment has become one of the most important issues of governments. National Taiwan University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology held a joint online workshop on 10th March, inviting professionals from this field to publish their research results and exchange thoughts. Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, National Taiwan University said in his welcome remarks: “Research professionals have always played a key role in studying and responding to the challenges we are facing. We are very honored to have some of the top researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and National Taiwan University talk about cutting-edge green technologies. The topics we will discuss today, including water resources, especially seawater desalination, carbon emission control, the removal and management of carbon dioxide, and the key to maximizing renewable and waste resources, are important topics that will help shape the future of green technology.”     Photo 1: Group photo of NTU and MIT speakers     In the first half of the workshop, Dr. Jongyoon Han, Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Department of Biological Engineering from MIT discussed a few critical challenges in seawater desalination. As large-scale desalination plants are not adequate for resource-limited, sparsely populated regions of the world with limited water supply. Dr. Han’s group has built a prototype of a portable, small-scale desalination device based on novel scientific advances in electrical desalination processes. Other significant challenges of desalination plants are the proper management of waste brine. Dr. Han showcased a few promising engineering approaches to reduce the impact of the environmental release of brine rejects from desalination plants. Next, Dr. Betar Gallant, Associate Professor and the American Bureau of Shipping Career Development Professor in Mechanical Engineering from MIT highlighted some existing challenges with CO2 capture and the uncertain question of what to do with CO2 once captured. These challenges reveal opportunities to develop emerging concepts to make carbon capture less energy-intensive and the need for more versatile capture technologies to meet demands in varied sectors where carbon will need to be managed. Dr. Gallant described their research efforts developing a concept of integrated CO2 capture with direct electrochemical conversion, which shows potential to simplify the carbon management chain and lower critical energy penalties. Dr. Gallant also discussed the scientific and practical challenges of relevant technology and factors to consider when assessing how it might contribute to managing carbon at scale.     In the second half of the workshop, Dr. Chia-Hung Hou, Professor of Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering from NTU discussed the capacitive deionization (CDI) technology for desalination, water reuse, and resource recovery. He pointed out that water treatment is not just about producing clean water. It is important to achieve this goal in a more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable way. His research team also developed CDI technology with this thinking in mind, and applied it to desalination, water reuse, and capturing of valuable ions in water. CDI-related research literature has grown rapidly since 2010. NTU ranks second in the world in CDI literature publications, and Dr. Hou plays an important leading role in it. He introduced the development, application, and advantages of different types of CDI technologies, and showed how his research team used them to help developing countries solve the problems of energy and clean water deficiency, as well as the water resource problems faced by island countries under climate change. Next Dr. Wen-Yueh Yu, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering from NTU talked about catalyst research and development, which is a key factor in upgrading renewable and waste resources. Catalysts are closely related to the technological development of green chemistry. The development of catalyst materials is also based on renewable resources and sustainable processes. The target is to develop catalysts that are atom-efficient, energy-efficient, cost-effective, carbon-neutral, and environment-friendly. Dr. Yu's research ranges from heterogeneous catalysis studies to surface science studies, with a current focus on the development and practical application of cost-effective catalysts. Currently, the industry mostly uses catalysts from abroad. But in recent years, Taiwan also hopes to design and produce catalysts locally. Dr. Yu's research team is expected to be one of the driving forces.     The workshop is honored to invite Dr. Kuo-Lun Tung, a Distinguished Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering of NTU, as the moderator of the event. Dr. Tung has extensive experience in both research and entrepreneurship of water and carbon in the circular economy. With his rich professionalism and innovation, as well as practical experience in industry-academia collaboration. led the in-depth discussion after each speech, concluded the workshop with the following remarks: “Water and carbon are the most important issues in a green economy. The topics of our four speakers from the leading universities today are all very new technologies. I hope to use this opportunity to provide you with an understanding of forward-looking technologies, to think about their applicable fields, and to gain a head start in application development.” Green technologies have not only become the basis of thinking for global growth, but also the driving force of many economic developments. The workshop organizer, National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office, hopes that this workshop would create more academic exchanges, and moreover, become a bridge for industry-academia collaboration, and brought innovative momentum into related industries after the successful conclusion of the event.  

Experts from academia, research, and industry gathered at the National Taiwan University (NTU) Center of Biotechnology on January 14, 2022, for a full-day workshop, focusing on the production and perspectives for mRNA technology in vaccine development. Hosted by the NTU Research Center for Epidemic Prevention Science (NTUReCEPS), NTU Center of Biotechnology, NTU Industry Liaison Office (NTU ILO), Merck Taiwan, and The Global Industry Platform of NTU System (T4GIP), and supported by the Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB), the Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories (BDL) of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), and the NTU Pharmaceutical Industry Innovative Education Promotion Center, the workshop provided a comprehensive overview of the development process of mRNA vaccines and drugs, from research to commercial bioprocessing.     Photo 1: Group photo of the speakers and guests     The opening remarks were given by Dr. Pai-Chi Li, Vice President of Research and Development and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU, and Dr. Yen-Hsuan Ni, Dean of the College of Medicine at NTU and Head of NTUReCEPS. Dr. Li noted the broad range of topics and experts included in the workshop and further stated that, as the biotechnology industry is a lifesaving industry in the literal sense, talent cultivation and collaboration between industry and academia in this field is key. Dr. Ni also stressed the importance of the biotech industry and encouraged both academia and industry to target the field of mRNA for research and development, as the current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the value of mRNA vaccines and precipitated the development of mRNA technologies.              Photo 2: Opinions exchange in the panel discussion     A total of eight talks were presented in the workshop, with the first speaker being Dr. David Loong, Senior Consultant of Novel Modalities Bioprocessing Strategy for the Asia-Pacific Region at Merck. Dr. Loong compared current vaccine technologies and noted several key advantages for mRNA vaccines, including better safety, fast production, and flexible design. In addition, Dr. Loong stated that developing and mastering mRNA technologies, which could be used for the production of multiple vaccines, would greatly facilitate cost reduction. Following Dr. Loong’s talk, Josephine Cheng, Senior Consultant of Core Modalities Bioprocessing Strategy for the Asia-Pacific Region at Merck, discussed vaccine manufacturing in the post-pandemic era and underlined three major trends: novel platform technologies, digitalization, and automated bioprocessing 4.0. The importance of reliable platform technologies and templates was also stressed, as these can reduce development time, facilitate standardization and expedite regulatory approval.     mRNA production was also a major topic at the workshop, with Dr. Loong presenting a detailed overview of mRNA bioprocessing, and Dr. Lili Meng, Formulation Business Development Manager at Merck, giving two separate talks on mRNA lipid-based delivery systems and mRNA custom manufacturing services. In addition, Dr. Min-Yuan Chou, Division Director of Diagnostics and Precision Medicine Technology at BDL, ITRI, reviewed the development of mRNA production systems and shared many of his own related experiences. All three speakers stressed the importance of using high quality raw materials and developing a validated and optimized production process. Dr. Chou also mentioned the limitations posed by raw material availability and patent restrictions and suggested that active measures should be taken to address these issues. Dr. Loong and Dr. Meng thereupon expressed strong interest from Merck in working with local universities and biotech/pharma businesses to develop novel mRNA-based therapeutics.     Basic research remained a key focus on the workshop, and as early pioneers in the development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics, Dr. Tsai-Kun Li, Vice President of DCB, and Dr. Wei-Kuang Chi, Distinguished Consultant at DCB, both shared their valuable experiences in drug development and noted the opportunities for CDMOs (contract development and manufacturing organizations). The final talk was given by Dr. Hsueh-Ping Chu, Assistant Professor at the NTU Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, who spoke about her latest research findings in mRNA non-coding regions, and pointed a way forward for future research and development.     In the subsequent panel discussion, Rusty Chen, Head of Process Solutions at Taiwan Merck, reiterated the importance of mRNA in future drug development, and emphasized that Merck was ready to provide the necessary knowledge, training, consulting, and services to academia and industry in Taiwan. In closing, Dr. Tang-Long Shen, Director of the NTU Center of Biotechnology, drew attention to the fact that although mRNA technology had been in development for some 50 years, only now was it entering a rapid maturation phase, in which players that could rapidly line up the necessary technologies and resources stood to gain the most. Therefore, Dr. Shen announced that the NTU Center of Biotechnology would continue to host related symposia, workshops, and courses, to provide a platform for students, faculty, researchers, industry personnel, and government representatives aspiring to develop mRNA-based therapeutics, and facilitate mutual collaboration and support to accelerate the arrival of homegrown mRNA vaccines and drugs in Taiwan.          

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), National Taiwan University (NTU) and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) announced on January 18 a collaboration on developing advanced technology research in the cloud, Internet of Things, and 5G network. The three parties have also launched an industry-university cooperation internship program. The plan is to integrate global resources and local technological power to explore Taiwan's industry-university research and development potential, train students to broaden the international forward-looking vision, accumulate experience in participating in international projects, and expand future employment possibilities.     Photo 1: (From the left) Jim Kuo, Vice President of Servers & Options Engineering and Taiwan COE Compute Business Group, Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU Chang-Fa Yang, Dean of Industry-Academia Collaboration, NTUST, kicked off the collaboration plan on advanced technology research and talent cultivation.     "HPE is honored to have the opportunity to bring rich global resources to Taiwan, and to explore infinite possibilities of industry-university cooperation through R&D and internship programs," said Jim Kuo, Vice President of Servers & Options Engineering and Taiwan COE Compute Business Group. "At the same time, the practical field experiences will help students integrate trends, theories and practices, which will gradually cultivate top scientific and technological talents, and provide the students with future career development opportunities."     Photo 2: NTU, NTUST and HPE discussed the details and visions of the collaboration.     The continuous spread of COVID-19 has created an increasing demand for smart manufacturing, retail, etc. The rise of smart applications has not only driven enterprises' emerging needs of cloud services, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and other technologies but also produces an enormous volume of data. Faced with the rapid growth of data, companies desperately need to optimize data processing, storage, and application in memory technology, so that government agencies, manufacturing, retail, medical, and financial organizations, etc. can implement innovative transformation. Combining its global resources and NTU’s technological capability, HPE uses its powerful high-performance computing (HPC) functions, AI deep learning and HPE GreenLake Edge-to-Cloud platform to help enterprises schedule memory resources more efficiently, securely and agilely without sacrificing the performance in response to their business needs.     Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU commented on this cooperation: "The joint research and development with HPE is a new starting point. Through long-term exchanges and industry-university cooperation with HPE, we look forward to comprehensive improvement in industry-university research and development energy and cultivating more outstanding talents. Global Industry Platform of NTU System has assembled several top universities, integrating cross-university and cross-field resources, and is committed to creating a positive cycle of industry-university cooperation. The collaboration between NTU and NTUST, two members of this platform, and HPE, an international company, not only enhances the research and development capabilities of industry and academia but also provides a good opportunity for outstanding talents to connect with the world."     The cooperation between HPE and NTUST focuses on innovation and application in smart industries. It is expected to give a better response to the market's emerging need of 5G, Internet of Vehicles applications, etc, which requires large capacity, low latency and multiple connections. Professor Chang-Fa Yang, Dean of Industry-Academia Collaboration, NTUST, said: "Through the close connection with the industry, students can apply what they have learned and actively accumulate industry experience during their studies. After graduation, they can contribute to related industries through solid academic and industrial training. We look forward to maintaining long-term cooperation with HPE to jointly cultivate R&D talents for the industry."     In addition to R&D cooperation, HPE, NTU and NTUST also plan to sign an industry-university internship program, allowing interns to have up to 12 months of internships in HPE’s global hub for next-generation innovative technology and strategy, and join the R&D projects with an internationally renowned software development team. It helps the students to expand their global outlook, verify what they have learned, and accumulate practical experience. At the same time, there are opportunities for the students to apply their experiences gained from the internship to HPE’s future product services, promoting the growth of Taiwan’s new blood, and maximizing the benefit of cooperation. The technological cooperation and internship program between HPE, NTU and NTUST is a brand-new relationship between international manufacturers and Taiwan’s academic circles. The rich resources and forward-looking vision of multinational manufacturers, combined with the research capacity from academia, brings new potential for Taiwan’s industry-university collaboration. At the same time, it also helps the students greatly enhance and expand the potential for future career development.  

National Taiwan University and Kyoto University, Japan, held an online research matchmaking event on December 22. It focused on three fields: life sciences, agriculture and forestry, and materials sciences. More than 20 professors from the two universities gathered together to introduce their research projects and seek opportunities for cross-university and interdisciplinary cooperation between the two parties. Since the establishment of sister schools between National Taiwan University and Kyoto University in 2005, various cooperative and exchange programs have been developed. With the support of joint meetings and funding programs, joint research between the two universities has been developing steadily and strongly. The signing of the strategic partnership agreement in August 2020 further encouraged staff and students to exchange visits and hold international conferences through funding subsidies.   Picture 1: Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, NTU giving welcome remarks     Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, National Taiwan University talked about the history of the two universities in his welcome remarks: “Kyoto University and National Taiwan University have had a long history, including staff and student exchange programs, dual degree programs, etc. One of the goals of the strategic partnership agreement in 2020 is to accelerate more collaborations in interdisciplinary and joint research. Today’s matching event was organized by the Industry Liaison Office, NTU, and Office of Society Academia Collaboration for Innovation, KU. By promoting the joint funding program, we hope to open up more opportunities in the synergy and integration of research resources of the two universities.” Prof. Yasuyuki Kono, Vice President of International Strategy, Kyoto University also expressed his blessings for the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two universities in his opening speech and looked forward to expanding international linkages through more communication and exchanges.   Picture 2: Group photo of the research matchmaking event     The event mainly focused on the three areas: life sciences, agriculture and forestry, and materials sciences. Three parallel roundtable discussions were hosted respectively by Professor Weichung Wang of the Institute of Applied Mathematical Sciences, Professor Je-Ruei Liu of the Institute of Biotechnology, Professor Kevin C.-W. Wu of the Department of Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University and representatives from Kyoto University. Professors from these areas with diverse research topics were invited to join the roundtable discussions. These three areas not only represent some of the fields where National Taiwan University and Kyoto University have performed outstandingly, but are also closely related to current society’s issues, including the research and development of medical technologies, biotechnology, and medicine, as well as ecology, energy, and sustainability. The professors of the two universities shared their research directions and capabilities, exchanged opinions enthusiastically in group discussions, and both expressed a high degree of interest in conducting joint research. After the three breakout sessions, the professors reunited for the final roundtable forum. Under the guidance of Professor Yasuyuki Kono of Kyoto University and Distinguished Professor Hsueh-Fen Juan of National Taiwan University, the roundtable forum was titled "Shaping New Holistic Approach by Academic Collaboration towards Intractable Social Issues". The professors provided their insights based on their professions from different knowledge fields. The dialogue deepened the breadth and diversity of the forum, and also showed the potential breakthroughs and infinite possibilities that can be brought about by interdisciplinary research cooperation.     While the world is facing major challenges and increasingly complex issues, the integration of scientific research in different disciplines, and even the emergence of new research fields, helps to combine different perspectives and seek solutions under a new structural and systematic approach. In addition to continuing the existing relations between National Taiwan University and Kyoto University, this matchmaking event is expected to further establish strategic collaboration and promote cross-university and interdisciplinary joint research grants. It is hoped that the integration of the abundant research resources and talents will give academic research more forward-looking, innovative thinking and breakthroughs.  

The Global Industry Platform of NTU System (T4GIP) brought together National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science & Technology, and National Taiwan University Hospital to attend the 2021 Taiwan Healthcare Expo on the topic of medical caring in post-pandemic. The guests included Executive Vice President of NTU, Shan-Chwen Chang, Vice President of NTU, Pai-Chi Li, Dean of College of Medicine of NTU, Yen-Hsuan Ni, Vice Dean of R&D of NTUST, Ai-Ho Liao, Superintendent of NTU Hospital, Ming-Shiang Wu, and Secretary in Medical Affairs of NTU Hospital, Hsin-Hsi Chen, etc. participated the opening of NTU Exhibition; while president Ing-Wen Tsai had visited the exhibition for supporting the research power and results of NTU.   President Ing-Wen Tsai visited NTU Exhibition at the 2021 Taiwan Healthcare Expo.     During the opening of NTU Exhibition, the Superintendent of NTU Hospital, Ming-Shiang Wu, expressed his expectation for sparks from the stimulations between participating teams; while the Vice President of NTU, Pai-Chi Li, mentioned the closer relationship between university and hospital for collaboration from research to clinic; the Vice Dean of R&D of NTUST, Ai-Ho Liao, appreciated T4GIP for building the chance of sharing and communication across universities. The participation of NTU, NTUST, and NTU hospital had gathered support and energy from the Government, academia, and industry, which is believed to lead to better development of Taiwan medical industry.   National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science & Technology, and National Taiwan University Hospital attended the 2021 Taiwan Healthcare Expo.     Under the influence of the pandemic, artificial intelligence and telemedicine catch the attention of the industry. The Center of Intelligent Healthcare of NTU Hospital shared the technology of chest X-ray and image detection system in assisting COVID-19 testing; the team of NTU Medical Genie build up an automatic coding system of ICD-10; NTU MeDA Lab (Medical Data Analytics Laboratory) collaborates with NTU Hospital in speeding up the pancreatic cancer testing. In the telemedicine research field, the team of associate professor Huey-Wen Lian of NTU Hospital adapted virtual reality system in posturography; the team of associate professor Chia Pin Yu of NTU offers forestry therapy with virtual reality technology, etc.  Diverse research teams from NTU university and hospital brought the advanced medical technologies to the 2021 Taiwan Healthcare Expo, and shared and exchanged their studies personally during the event.     In summary, the research power and result from NTU, NTUST, and NTU Hospital had gained huge attention from attendees during the 2021 Healthcare Expo, which is believed to build up a positive conversation and circulation between academia and industry.  

The digital age is accelerating due to the COVID-19 epidemic, which leads to the surging demand for intelligent connectivity of all things. Advanced communication technologies play a key role in it. As soon as the 5th generation (5G) networks came into the market, many countries have dived into the field of the 6th generation (6G) network technologies. Low earth orbit satellites are regarded as the key technology that dominates 6G. It is expected that mobile communications will be integrated with low earth orbit satellite communications to achieve seamless access and coverage, and achieve the goal of the Internet of Everything. National Taiwan University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology co-held an online workshop on November 17th on advanced 6G communication technologies. Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development, and Director of Industry Liaison Office, National Taiwan University said in his welcome remarks: “The 6G era is expected to arrive in a few years. The combination of mobile communication systems and satellite networks will lead us to a highly automated and intelligent society. While countries are actively investing in 6G technology research and development, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and National Taiwan University also play an important role in it.”     Photo: Group photo of NTU and MIT speakers   The workshop began with Dr. Muriel Médard, Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor from the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department of MIT. Dr. Médard pointed out that much of the recent debate on the adoption of 5G wireless technology has centered on the issue of standards. Her investigation showed that even the simplest of codes, such as those currently used for error checking, do as well as state-of-the-art codes. Since multi-code encoders are readily constructed, we may consider, freed from dedicated decoders, removing standardization, and the restrictions that come with it, in codes. Next, Dr. Bruce Cameron, Director of System Architecture Lab of MIT shared his thoughts on the future of satellite communications. He believed that satellite communications are undergoing many changes due to two key trends: changing services to smaller city-sized beams, and market entry of LEO constellations. He talked about the opportunities and challenges these new services present from an operator perspective, focused on the key of how to manage services dynamically. He also provided a brief overview of the market landscape in LEO.     In the second half of the workshop, Dr. Hung-Yu Wei, Professor and Associate Chair from the Department of Electrical Engineering of NTU, shared several of his observations based on years of research in professional fields including edge computing, fog computing, and machine learning. He also pointed out the challenges and opportunities that come with the development of 6G communication systems. Next, Dr. Hsi-Tseng Chou, Distinguished Professor from the Department of Electrical Engineering of NTU, applied his research of high-gain/smart antenna and the technologies of electromagnetic and communication systems in his talk on the antenna-in-package and modularizations for 5G, B5G, 6G and LEO satellite communications.     Given the attention that communication technologies are currently receiving, the four speeches in the workshop all attracted the participants’ enthusiastic engagement. The moderator, Dr. Tzong-Lin Wu, Professor and Associate Dean from the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of NTU, concluded the workshop with the following remarks: “The Internet of Everything, which is expected to be achieved by 6G networks, is crucial to economic development. Many companies in Taiwan have actively invested in the research and manufacturing of related technologies and components. In today’s workshop, the talks from these experts have sparked many innovative ideas and potential opportunities. I believe that the combination of academic research and industrial applications will shed new light on the current challenges and accelerate the development of communication technologies.”      

National Taiwan University joined hands with National Taiwan University Hospital, Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, IP Management Promotion & Administration Center at Taiwan (IMPACT), BioMed Commercialization Center, and other academic and research institutions On October 18th to hold “Academia-Industry Matchmaking for Biomedical Industry in the Post-Pandemic Era”. The event attracted 41 inventors and over a hundred companies.     Photo 1: Group photo of event guests (from left to right: Grace Chang, CEO of National Taiwan University, Industry Liaison Office, Li-Ju Wang, Director of BioMed Commercialization Center, Drug Division, Kuang-Hung Hsu, Vice President of Chang Gung University, Pai-Chi Li, Vice President of the Office of Research and Development at National Taiwan University, Ching-Shiun Chen, Dean of Office of Technology Development and Industry Liaison, Chang Gung University, Professor Da-Sheng Lee from IMPACT, Tang-Long Shen, Director of Center of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University)     Due to the severe infectious pneumonia COVID-19's impact on global economic and social development in the past two years, COVID-19 has become the common enemy of the global medical community. How to co-exist with the epidemic has become the new thinking for related industries. Kuang-Hung Hsu, Vice President of Chang Gung University said in his opening speech, "The preparation of epidemic prevention materials, epidemic monitoring, telemedicine, long-term care, as well as the research and development of new drugs and medical products are the most important issues in the global industry at this moment. The biomedical industry is trying different attempts and discussions around the world. Through the gathering of the industry, academia, and research community today, I believe we will create more innovative thinking and business opportunities." Pai-Chi Li, Vice President of the Office of Research and Development at National Taiwan University also said: "The biomedical industry has produced a large number of talents in recent years. A huge amount of industrial capacity has been accumulated thanks to the multilateral cooperation of academic research, clinical research and development, and cross-field cooperation. It has led to today’s matchmaking event. We look forward to enhancing the depth and breadth of academia-industry cooperation through face-to-face discussions among experts from various fields."     The event invited Professor Da-Sheng Lee from IMPACT to talk about the arrangement and analysis of patents related to COVID-19. Prof. Lee provided a detailed analysis of the current status of Taiwan’s patents in key technologies and applications relevant to the epidemic. He pointed out the status of Taiwan's academia in the global patent layout and hoped to provide the industry and other institutes with a more comprehensive understanding and strategic considerations when planning technology development and patents.     This event focused on four topics: epidemic monitoring and care technology, vaccine and pharmaceutical development, biotechnology testing, telemedicine, and medical Internet, where speakers talked about the development and trend of biomedicine in the post-epidemic era from different perspectives. This event also introduced the research and development capabilities of the National Defense Medical Center and National Taiwan University's Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories and invited the National Institutes of Health to introduce the application potential of the national biobank platform in epidemic prevention. Under the threat of the COVID-19 epidemic, the matchmaking event received a lot of interest. Inventors gathered together from across Taiwan, including National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University Hospital, Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Ming Chi University of Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Defense Medical Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Academia Sinica and other government, academic and research institutes. Participants from different fields, such as biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, including Formosa Plastics Group, Formosa Biomedical Technology Corp., Novartis, Panion & BF Biotech Inc., Acer Medical Inc., Level Biotechnology Inc., Excelsior Bio-System Inc., EirGenix, Inc., Well-Together Industrial Ltd., and other well-known companies and venture capital, were also invited to join this matchmaking event.       The host, Tang-Long Shen, Director of Center of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, said at the end of the event: "The development of the biomedical industry requires long-term work and a huge investment of resources. Today's matchmaking was completed with joint efforts from many parties. It provides a platform for technology inventors to showcase their latest research and development results. The active discussions between the inventors and the on-site guests are expected to enable a closer communication and cooperation between the industry, government, academia, and research parties in the biomedical industry, helping Taiwan biomedical companies to create a new global layout."     Photo 1: Participants having discussions on matchmaking opportunities

With the global pandemic of coronavirus, biotechnology has become the focus of research because of the development of vaccines and drugs. National Taiwan University invited experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States and organized an online biotechnology workshop on the innovation and application of RNA technology and synthetic biology on August 19th. With the rapid development of biotechnology, a wide range of applications, including in food, medicine, agriculture, industry, and energy, etc. can be found in every aspect of our daily lives. The workshop, held at this time, happened to provide the participants with the latest development in biotechnology.     Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development, National Taiwan University and Director of National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office said in his welcome remarks: " Biotechnology plays an instrumental role in helping develop vaccine at a record time. On the other hand, we also know that the pandemic brought many questions to biotechnology, which inspires us to organize this workshop." The workshop started with two professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Professor Daniel G. Anderson from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute for Medical Engineering and Science is an expert in the development of innovative medical equipment, materials and therapies. In this speech, he talked about his recent research on nucleic acid delivery systems and how to apply them in RNA therapy and gene editing to develop vaccines for infectious diseases. Next, Associate Professor of Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science talked about how to use synthetic biotechnology to develop faster, cheaper and more powerful therapeutics and diagnostics for future pandemics. He believed that DNA programming will continue to drive the emergence and optimization of new therapeutics modalities, and investment in breakthrough biotechnologies will prepare us for the unknowns.   In the second half of the seminar, Professor Chii-Wann Lin from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, who also spans the fields of electrical engineering and medical, shared his research on optical biosensor with engineering aptamers for kinetics and diagnostics. Next, Assistant Professor Chu, Chung-Han from the Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University shared how he combined bioinformatics and chemistry and discovered nine new antibiotics. The moderator, Professor Jing-Jer Lin, the associate vice president of Research & Development of National Taiwan University, said at the end of the seminar: "RNA has shown its great power during this epidemic, and the changes that synthetic biotechnology has brought to our lives are enormous. The research of the four speakers has shown us that biotechnology has infinite possibilities for the improvement of medicine and health in the future."   As the epidemic is not over, all parties are actively seeking solutions. This workshop meets the needs of the times, and both registration and participation are very enthusiastic. The brilliant speeches in the workshop and the earnestly discussions between the participants and the speakers are expected to bring new prospects and inspirations to the industry, as well as more collaboration opportunities among industry, university and research.  

Over 50 participants from 15 institutions in Taiwan, Japan, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia gathered online to attend the Inaugural Conference of the Asia+ Alliance for Academia-Industry Partnership and Innovation (A+A) on July 12, 2021. Organized by the Center for Industry-Academia Cooperation of the Office of Research and Development at National Taiwan University (NTU), the Global Industry Platform of NTU System (T4GIP), and the IP Management Promotion & Administration Center at Taiwan (IMPACT), the conference aimed to bring participating universities together in an Alliance that could mark a paradigm shift for academia-industry collaboration in Asia, and usher in a new era of international cooperation.          In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Pai-Chi Li, Vice-President for Research and Development at National Taiwan University, noted the disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of vaccine development and scientific research, and stated that more academia-industry collaboration would be needed on an international scale to develop and propagate scientific solutions to this and future challenges. Considering that Asia is currently home to over 60% of the global population, it is likely that such challenges would also have a greater impact in Asia, and therefore it makes sense to have a local alliance that can facilitate international academia-industry collaboration and speed the development of innovative solutions. Presentations on current academia-industry collaboration ecosystems and structures were made by the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre in Taipei, the University of Haifa, Hiroshima University, the University of Tsukuba, Kyoto University, National University of Singapore, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, IMPACT, and National Taiwan University. This was followed by an open discussion in which comments and ideas were exchanged regarding the three main objectives of the Alliance, namely: 1. Pooling of licensable/transferable IP for international academia-industry collaboration; 2. Organizing workshops, internships, and training for international talent cultivation; 3. Leveraging third-party professional service providers to increase competitiveness. In closing, the conference moderator and Director of the NTU Center for Industry-Academia Cooperation, Dr. Tang-Long Shen, expressed his wishes that the Alliance would facilitate intermural collaboration between participating universities, and help bring the fruits of scientific research more quickly to international markets. Efforts are now underway to establish a formal Alliance organization, build the infrastructure necessary to promote information-sharing and collaboration, and invite more participating universities across Asia.  

Digital Technologies Combined with Smart Management to Prepare for Future Deployment Digital transformation has been a hot topic for many years. Although many companies are committed to it, it has been a slow journey from the beginning. Global Industry Platform of NTU System and National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office co-held an online seminar on "Digital Transformation and Smart Management" on June 23 to share how to apply digital technologies to the transformation of business models and establish a data-driven, adaptable corporate culture and operating strategy.         Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development, National Taiwan University and Director of National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office said in his opening speech: "Since several years ago, digital transformation has been getting noticed. With the popularization of network infrastructure and the improvement of its efficiency, digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and big data, have also penetrated various aspects of life. In 2020, the impact of COVID-19 urged industries to utilize these digital technologies to improve the efficiency of operating processes, products, and customer experience. Digital transformation has become a weapon for companies to break through the barriers and enhance their competitiveness, hence the seminar today."   The seminar invited three professors from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taiwan University to share their research results and industrial experiences in digital technology. They also brought suggestions as to how companies can create a digital transformation deployment plan and strategy, and further apply digital technologies to achieve business and operational goals. The seminar started with Professor Winston Hsu analyzing the development and application of artificial intelligence in machine learning technology, as well as the current bottlenecks and corresponding solutions. He also shared some of his cases of product development and talked about how to apply machine learning technology to develop or improve products and services. Next, Professor Shih-wei Liao introduced the A (Artificial Intelligence), B (Blockchain), C (Cloud Computing), and D (Big Data) in fintech based on some successful cases of digital transformation in the financial industry. Finally, Professor Phone Lin explained how to use big data and machine learning as the core analysis algorithms in the maintenance and operation detection automation, such as real-time detection, malfunction analysis, and resource allocation, etc. to improve system performance and stability.         The seminar closed with some remarks from Grace Chang, CEO of National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office, “Digital transformation is not a one-day journey. In addition to the constantly changing market, companies also have to overcome obstacles that come from technical and cultural changes. Global Industry Platform of NTU System combines the research and development forces of the four universities – National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, and Chang Gung University. We actively cooperate with industries to make the adapting process smoother. I am very glad that in this seminar, we had the opportunity to learn about the challenges and experiences of our guests from different industries. I believe through close academia-industry cooperation, we can help companies with digital transformation.” In addition to sharing NTU’s achievements in the field of digital technologies, this seminar also aimed to achieve technology cooperation and build a bridge between industries and academia, thereby creating value-added synergies.

Medical and Health Experts Shared Insights in Pandemic Control and Prevention Since the end of 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus has changed the world greatly. Quarantine, social distancing, lockdowns, recessions, and loss of family members caused by the global pandemic affect every aspect of people’s lives. Researchers from epidemic prevention and public health science have been actively engaging in studies searching for effective preventative measures and cures to fight it. Despite the development of new vaccines, the majority of the world is still struggling with recovery. National Taiwan University and the University of Haifa, Israel hosted a virtual co-workshop on COVID-19 and public health and 2nd June. Professors from the medical and health fields were invited to share their research findings and experiences in the fight against COVID-19.         The workshop started with an opening speech from Professor Pai-Chi Li, VP of Office of Research and Development, National Taiwan University and Director of National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office: “Israel and Taiwan both have unique experiences in keeping COVID-19 under control. We are very pleased and honored to work with the University of Haifa on this topic. Although we are facing a setback in Taiwan lately, it only teaches us that there is always more to learn about pandemic control and public health. I hope today’s talks will bring everyone some new thoughts on not just the combat against COVID-19 but also studies about the science of disease control and public health.”   “With the threat of COVID-19, everyone is aware of how important the science of pandemic research is. Now is the time to go deeper into science. Both National Taiwan University and the University of Haifa have excellent researchers. I hope this workshop will lead to more collaboration and joint research.” Professor Meir Hemmo, Provost of the University of Haifa said in his welcome remarks.   Eight professors from both universities shared their research efforts with online audiences. The topics focused on Israel’s and Taiwan’s successful experiences as well as lessons learned from the year-long combat against COVID-19. It includes the observations, analysis, of the vaccination campaign, the factors of people’s hesitation in getting vaccinated, and the ethics issues of “Green Badge”, “Vaccine Passport” that derived from vaccination. In addition to the talks around vaccines, other topics also included the study of a research network of pandemic prevention, the use of face masks in preventing virus transmission, and the social impact of COVID-19 on people and the community.         In his closing remarks, the workshop moderator, also the Director of Center of Industry Academia Cooperation, Prof. Tang-Long Shen said, “Researchers from Israel and Taiwan were brought together by this workshop, with the joint efforts of the University of Haifa, National Taiwan University, NTU Industry Liaison Office and NTU Epidemic Prevention Scientific Research Center. I believe the sharing and discussions during this workshop would bring new thoughts to the combat against COVID-19 and the science of disease control and public health. I also hope it would create more opportunities for academia-industry cooperation. Through the collaboration between academic research and industry’s field experiences, both can benefit and advance from it.” The workshop successfully marked a step in the academic and industrial exchanges between Israel and Taiwan in medical science and public health. Participants' enthusiastic participation and discussions were also expected to further strengthen the future cooperation.

Speakers from NTU and MIT were invited to share results and insights of their research and initiatives. With the shrinking of environmental resources, green technology has become an important science in recent years. ESG and sustainability are no longer just a slogan for companies to meet social responsibilities, but a subject that affects business strategies and organizational survival. The United Nations adopted 17 core Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, and National Taiwan University also uses these SDGs as a benchmark to build a future university. In response to this issue, the National Taiwan University Industrial Liaison Organization held an online and offline seminar on May 11th. The seminar looked into environmental sustainability and green technology from various angles. It also included a discussion session for speakers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to exchange questions and opinions with onsite participants on the implementation and effectiveness of sustainable campaigns.           Prof. Pai-Chi Li, VP of NTU R&D and Director of National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office (NTUILO) said in his welcome speech: “In order to provide high-quality and advanced services, National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office actively seeks opportunities for cooperation with leaders from all fields. This cooperation with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) started with an idea and after several discussion and communication, we were finally able to decide on the topics and speakers. We also overcame the time differences and invited MIT professors to have a discussion with our onsite guests. It is a very rare opportunity considering how the epidemic has stopped so many international communications.” Grace Chang, CEO of the NTUILO also said: "Sustainability has been getting more and more attention, and National Taiwan University of course will not be silent. As an academic and research organization, we have invited experts from different fields, including finance management, material technology, and forestry to share their research findings with our guests, hoping to expand the cooperative relationship with the industry and do our part in promoting sustainable development."   The seminar started with 3 online sessions from MIT speakers. Professor John Fernández first shared how MIT leverages key capacity of the entire faculty, student and staff across diverse topics in research and engagement to create solutions to climate change and other environmental challenges. Professor Yossi Sheffi proposed a different point of view regarding green technology and argued that while current green efforts should continue, the solution is technology for carbon sequestrations and storage. Lastly, Professor Elsa Olivetti discussed tools and analytical modeling efforts that explore the potential for recycling of materials such as paper, copper and aluminum which helps to assess the contexts under which recycling may reduce a material or product footprint.   The second half of the seminar took place in NTUH International Convention Center with 3 talks from NTU professors. Professor Pai-Ta Shih from Finance Department discussed green economy with balanced environment and development from supply chains’ perspective. Next Professor Chia-Wen Wu from Chemical Engineering Department presented the results of his study on the application of different types of ordered nanoporous materials in sustainable environment. Lastly Professor Chia-Pin Yu from School of Forestry & Resource Conservation talked about how being in a green environment could bring actual benefits on people’s body and spirit from a scientific point of view.   The last part of the seminar was hosted by Professor Shiuh-Shen Chien from Department of Geography. Professor John Fernández and Professor Yossi Sheffi from MIT joined onsite guests and discussed topics such as how to promote sustainable products to consumers, experiences of successful and failing initiatives, etc. The enthusiastic exchange and interaction between MIT’s professors and Taiwan’s onsite guests brought the seminar to a successful conclusion, which was an important milestone for NTUILO’s dedication of extending the collaboration between industry and university to an international level.    

  A briefing on Israeli startup resources and investment was held by NTU Industry Liaison Office (ILO) at the Taiwan X Isareal Center (TXI Center) on the afternoon of October 31, inviting Tslil Lahav, head of Israeli Economic and Trade Mission in Taipei, Revital Shpangental, representative of Haifa University, a number of Israeli economic and trade figures, Pai-Chi Li, R&D chief of National Taiwan University, David Peng, CEO of NTU ILO, and corporate members of NTU ILO. This event looked closely on Israel’s startup resources, education, and investment environment, providing professional insights on industrial complementarity between Taiwan and Israel. With questions from members of NTU ILO          Lahav and Li pointed out that combining Israel’s startup technology and Taiwan’s expertise in system integration, membership of NTU ILO would accelerate the development of Taiwan’s industry and create new business opportunities under waves of US-China trade war and global informatization.     ​​​​​​​

On the morning of September 19th, Kyoto University’s Office of Society-Academia Collaboration for Innovation visited National Taiwan University (NTU). The collaborative research director, Katsutoshi Fukuda, the international affairs counselor, Muneo Takaya, and the international researcher, Dr. Ravi VELAGA, visited the campus. First, Professor Tang-Long Shen, deputy research and development director of NTU’s R&D department, and Sheng-Wei Peng, CEO of NTU’s Industry Liaison Office, shared their experiences about industry-academia collaboration. Afterwards the two sides exchanged views and experiences.       Considering the needs of Taiwan's future development and limited short-term changes in the organization, the MIT's industry-academia collaboration model is adopted to set up the "National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office (NTU ILO)" with a federal-style conceptual plan. NTU ILO aims at linking the resources of top companies, focusing on forward-looking and innovative research, and assisting with the connection between Taiwan's industry and the international.         Later, the guests went to the main campus to meet with the R&D chief, Pai-Chi Li, and talked about the collaboration between the two universities.         Subsequently, Shou-Yan Zhang, the Vice CEO of NTU ILO, accompanied the guests from Kyoto University to visit the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Robotics of National Taiwan University. The establishment of a cross-disciplinary center covering artificial intelligence applications on robotics, industrial manufacturing, biomedical science, and cognitive science is an urgent need. NTU is a comprehensive university with forward-looking research in the academic field, with the environment of high-quality research and industry-academia collaboration. The school is also very active in attracting scholars from overseas, promoting international academic exchanges, and enhancing Taiwan’s international status and strength in the international academia. Based on such excellent conditions and the full support of the school, the "National Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Robotics Research Center" was established.         In the end, Shou-Yan Zhang, the Vice CEO of NTU ILO, and Wen Song-Hua, manager of ILO, accompanied the guest to companies of ATEN International, QNAP, BriteMED, and Quanta Computer, where the exchange was successfully completed.    

International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) works towards providing scholarships for outstanding teenagers from our allies to study in Taiwan and organizing workshops for their officers under commissions from the ministry of foreign affairs.       By seeing how NTU supports startups, links academia with the industry, and exchange ideas with different countries, the visitors could apply our methods to the business in their countries.       Our visitors include officers, researchers, youth entrepreneurs, and union representatives, who are responsible for youth entrepreneurship development in ASEAN and south Asia countries. First, vice CEO of NTU ILO, Grace Chang, introduced NTU’s history and international accomplishments, as well as ILO’s mission. What follows the introduction was a lively discussion on experience of industry-academia collaboration in the Q&A time.         Finally, the presentation was closed by the gift-exchanging part by both the vice CEO, Grace Chang, and the representative of our visitor.         Afterwards, Jennifer from D-School gave the visitors a tour in the organization. D-School opens up courses for creative design, encouraging the “maker spirit” from the students. To provide a environment for creating, there are open spaces with accreditation requirements for students to sign up.         Finally, Lisa from NTU TEC introduced their center and showed the visitors around. Taitah Entrepreneurship Center (NTU TEC) has had 6 batches of activity and 13 startup teams, to which the visitors responded very positively.         Due to the tight schedule of the group, the visit was closed successfully with the company of NTU TEC staff.    

Financial technology is getting increasing attention. Until the first half of 2018, the global FinTech startups has invested a total of US$57.8 billion. To accelerate the development of Taiwan's financial technology applications, the Industry Liaison Office of National Taiwan University (NTU ILO) and E.SUN Bank established the “E.SUN-NTU AI and FinTech Development Center,” which is the first industry-academia collaboration center subordinate to the "FinTech Center" of National Taiwan University. The center was opened today by the Vice President of NTU, Ming-Syan Chen, R&D Chief, Pai-Chi Li, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Yao-wen Chang, Director of the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Yung-Yu Chuang, Director of FinTech Center, Zhi-Xing Chang, the CEO of E.SUN Financial Holding Company, Nan-Zhou Huang, and the Technology Chief, Sheng-Wei Chen. Combining the research and development resources from academia and industry, the center aims at bringing artificial intelligence and financial technology to user needs and opening a new era of Taiwan's smart finance development. The industry-academia collaboration will last two years, with E.SUN Bank paying more than 10 million on research funds each year.         The E.SUN-NTU AI and FinTech Development Center works towards international financial research. As the first cooperation project of NTU FinTech Center, this institution has computing devices that fully support the development and communication of the research team. In near future, combining the research resources of the colleges of EECS and management as well as the practical operation data and experience of E.SUN, this center will carry out research and development on applications of financial technology with AI approaches. The Vice President of NTU, Ming-Syan Chen, claimed that “Industry-academia collaboration is an important mechanism that rapidly improve Taiwan’s economy. For this reason, NTU has been in close touch with the industry. Sponsored by a startup company, this cooperation by the Industry Liaison Office of National Taiwan University (NTU ILO) is the biggest since its foundation. The mediation by ILO will help linking enterprises and academic resources with diversification, maximizing the practical operation data and experience of E.SUN, promoting technology and human resources development, and accelerating the development of forward-looking fintech applications.” The CEO of E.SUN Financial Holding Company, Nan-Zhou Huang, said, “E.SUN Bank has long been looking at customer’s needs, focusing on financial scene, smart finance, and inclusive finance, as well as developing financial technology and AI applications. NTU is a comprehensive university with diversified resources, expert technical knowledge, and excellent human resources. This industry-academia collaboration combines technologies of AI deep learning, keyword spotting of speech recognition, irregular activity monitoring, rendering AI and financial technology to practical use. E.SUN will keep striving to offer warm customer experience.”         NTU’s team for research center covers the colleges of EECS, engineering, law, and management, along with centers for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Robotics and FinTech. First, Zhi-Xing Chang and SD Lin from the graduate institute of networking and multimedia, Yung-Yao Chen from the department of electrical engineering, and Ling-Jie Kong from the department of information management will lead over 30 researchers. As the project moves forward, more resources will be provided.         Research project of the E.SUN-NTU AI and FinTech Development Center include keyword spotting of speech recognition and irregular activity monitoring, etc. Designed for actual problems encountered in market operation, the center aims at solving these by AI applications through NTU’s R&D resources.   [About the Industry Liaison Office of National Taiwan University] NTU ILO was founded for purposes of introducing industrial resources to academia through collaboration with enterprises, building up innovative system, achieving multiply effect in academic research, and creating social benefits and industrial value. Through integrated platform between the school and the industry, ILO strives for making NTU the most influential university to industrial development, innovation, and transformation. For more information, please visit: https://ntuilo.ilo.ntu.edu.tw/   [About FinTech@NTU] Through industry-academia collaboration, innovative services of information technology, and applications of new business models, NTU FinTech Center looks forward to enhancing the financial technology industry and the competitiveness of our country and developing cross-disciplinary financial applications that meet market needs: including green energy technology, Internet of Things, biotechnology, precision machinery, and arms industry. In accordance to financial technology regulations, this institution aims at promoting realization of data research and safety, boosting the development of financial industry, creating digitalized services and business models, and actively helping on the transformation of small and medium enterprises by using small & medium enterprise credit guarantee fund.    

With increasing attention to FinTech, National Taiwan University, the FinTech Center, is officially opened by the former Premier of Executive Yuan, Chang San-Cheng, the President of National Taiwan University, Kuan Chung-ming, Executive Vice-President, Chen Ming-Syan, Research, Development Director, Li Pai-Chi, and the Director of FinTech Center, Chang Jyh-Shing and other VIPs. FinTech aims at integrating artificial intelligence and financial technology and developing cross-field applications that meet market needs, leading Taiwan to a new realm of digital finance technology.     National Taiwan University FinTech opening ceremony     On the same day, the "Fintech Forum" was held simultaneously to discuss the policy, technology and application. NTUILO had invited members’ VIPs, potential industries and academia personals came together to participate in the event at the GIS International Conference Center. The President of the National Taiwan University first brought a speech to the event, the President first gave his blessings and hope to the establishment of the FinTech Center, and then the President recalled his experience as a scholar 30 years ago, the thesis he devoted to, was the artificial neuro network, which is highly related to current FinTech and brought some nostalgia, and he further emphasizes that "National Taiwan University has the best talents for electrical engineering, IT, finance, management and law. Through cross-cutting cooperation in production and learning, innovative information technology applications and business models to promote Taiwan's FinTech industry, the FinTech Center of National Taiwan University aims at enhancing the overall competitiveness of the country, making research and development in line with cross-disciplinary financial applications on the market!”     National Taiwan University President Kuan Chung-ming speech     Former Executive Yuan Premier Chang San-cheng immediately took the podium speech. In the past, the National Science Commission was upgraded to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Chang was the first Minister of Science and Technology as well as an important pusher of Taiwan's scientific and technological development. Today, Chang San-cheng said that AI will be widely used in precision manufacturing, science and technology agriculture and digital finance, and Taiwan University setting up a FinTech research center is quite encouraging. With "Open Bank" as its opening theme, the Taiwan University Financial Science and Technology Forum discussed the current situation and future of FinTech on forward-looking issues in the Fintech Industry Forum, Policy Forum and Fintech Technology Forum, respectively. Different from traditional financial centers, the forum also covered innovations including Uber, Airbnb, which dominates the sharing economy.     Former Executive Yuan Premier Chang San-cheng speech     Other essential themes include third-party payments, P2P online lending, mass fund-raising, big data applications, blockchain extension applications, and the expansion of AI's wide application in the financial industry, such as: financial robots and other emerging business models, transaction patterns, new technology to regulators and existing regulatory structure challenges.     FinTech Forum from left to right: Huanan bank vice president Hsu Bo-lin, Taipei Fubon Bank vice president, Li Wei-bin, Cathay Life vice president Chen Ming-huan, E.SUN Financial Holding CTO, Chen Sheng-wei     The team of National Taiwan University's Fintech Center will consist of the four major colleges: electric capital, industry, commerce and law, and combine artificial intelligence and high-end technology to make FinTech a huge part of the transformation and development of multi-faceted integration. In the future, we will develop cross-disciplinary financial applications in line with the market, including green energy technology, Internet of Things, biotechnology, precision machinery and defense industries, cooperating with artificial intelligence, information technology and FinTech regulations. With these attempts, Fintech will promote the deepening of data research and security, strengthen the development of the financial industry, establish digital services and business models, and actively assist small and medium-sized enterprises transformation with credit guarantee funds. In addition, the FinTech Research Center will be able to turn over the economic model and expand the size of domestic financial markets through the guidance allocation of funds and financial professional services to support the development of industry through finance, promote the transformation of industrial innovation, establish an aging social security mechanism, support public infrastructure and enhance the international competitiveness of the financial industry.     FinTech regulatory forum: vice chairman of financial supervisory commission Chang Chuang-Chang (left); former chairman of financial supervisory commission Wang Li-Ling.        

Prof. Dr. Hans Jürgen Prömel, president of TU Darmstadt, Regina Sonntag-Krupp Director of International Affairs,  and Prof. Dr. Oliver Clemens visited National Taiwan University on 5/22 yesterday .         David Peng, CEO of the National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office, proposed 4 major cooperation: 1. Industry Cooperation Across Two Countries, with a view to enabling member companies of the Taiwan University Industry and Education Alliance to identify opportunities for cooperation with German industries. 2. Start-up Cooperation Forum provides opportunities for new teams of students, professors or graduates from both universities to make use of the resources of the school to set up new startups. 3. International Talent Exchange Program, so that bilateral students and scholars can have short-term opportunities to travel to Germany and Taiwan. 4. International Accelerator Link enables bilateral start-ups to secure initial investment, industry coaching and government grants during a fixed period of time.         President Prof. Dr. Hans Jürgen Prömel responded on a case-by-case basis: A. The Darmstadt University of Technology is highly bonded with the industry. Talents and researcher are combined with the industry chain. They hope that the NTUILO will be able to integrate and collect the technical and cooperation request of NTUILO members. So that TU Darmstadt can list them from the top down, so that it could be possible to connect research teams and capacities with the cooperation request. B. The TU Darmstadt itself does not have the experience of start-up program, but they are looking forward to learn about the start-up program and to find potential opportunities for their students and professors. C. The school is very happy at exchange program. D. The Darmstadt University of Technology is quite interested in International accelerators, but like the start-up program, they do not have experiences yet. After learning about each other and goals, the meeting was successfully concluded and future cooperation is about to begin.      

    The National Taiwan University of Industry Liaison Office held an annual conference. More than 200 participants from well-known enterprises and universities participated in the conference. The conference held a corporate discussion on the topic of “talent and innovation”, bringing together resources and innovations from top domestic and foreign companies. We will work hard to upgrade the development of Taiwan's industry and connect with the international community. Kuan Chung-Ming, president of national Taiwan university, addressed that the world is facing many challenges such as population ageing, climate change, and trade war, supply chain, plate displacement. The new opportunities like AI applications, 5G and Internet of Things are growing very fast, biomedical breakthroughs, new energy sources. The development of circular economy and other developments will be a new challenge for countries to compete in; Kuan Chung-Ming said that the NTUILO should move from peer-to-peer cooperation to integrated cross-industry interaction. The core value of the university in the future is to cultivate complex changes. Talents, and then become "the talents of leadership change", from the perspective of industry and education innovation, it is to achieve "the enterprise that creates the future."     Kuan Chung-Ming, president of national Taiwan university, addressed that the world is facing many challenges such as population ageing, climate change, and trade war, supply chain, plate displacement.     The "Business Symposium" was hosted by David Peng, CEO of the NTUILO. He invited James Chen, CSO of E.SUN Financial Holding Co., Ltd., Pei-Chin Lin, Vice President of Cathay Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Wei-Hong Chen, Quanta Computer Inc., and Qing-Shan Yang, Chairman of King’s Ground Biotech Co., Ltd., to attend the meeting. The theme focuses on "Talent and Innovation", which has stirred up many sparks of interesting experiences.     From Left: Qing-Shan Yang, Chairman of King’s Ground Biotech Co., Ltd; Wei-Hong Chen, Quanta Computer Inc.; president of NTU R&D Pai-Chi Li, President of NTU Chung-Ming Kuan, vice president of NTU Ming-Syan Chen; James Chen, CSO of E.SUN Financial Holding Co., Ltd.; Pei-Chin Lin, Vice President of Cathay Life Insurance Co., Ltd.; David Peng, CEO of NTUILO     David Peng stressed that, in the past, enterprise has many difficulties to connect with National Taiwan University, because there is no single contact window. If you want to engage NTU resources’ or finding a professor to cooperate with, could be very challenging. Enterprises never cease seeking fresh talents to join their entities, and how do companies grow, also how to get the resources of National Taiwan University? NTUILO has a lot of customized courses such as AI, business management, middle and high-level management courses, etc., which is quite helpful for the improvement of business capabilities; NTUILO also provides many services such as technology transfer, and some are patents owned by professors, and the capability of developed technology or software, or even some professional research reports in the industry, ILO also has such a database to provide business consulting. There are many new innovation teams in NTU, highly potential and waiting for any opportunities and that will be our responsibilities to link up the industry and the NTU resources’.     David Peng, CEO of NTUILO

In order to expand the international connection, promote industry-academic cooperation and enhance the services of NTUILO members, National Taiwan University and Russia’s Skolkovo innovation techno-park held a cooperation memorandum ceremony on January 21, 2019 (Monday).     president of research and development Li-Pai-Chi, and the senior vice president of the Skolkovo innovation techno-park, Alexander Chernov, to sign a memorandum of cooperation     The school is led by the president of research and development Li-Pai-Chi, and the senior vice president of the Skolkovo innovation techno-park, Alexander Chernov, to sign a memorandum of cooperation, and hope that the two sides can achieve mutually beneficial win-win results.     Senior VP for communication. Alexander Chernov speech（left: VP for Science and Education Nikolay Suetin; right: Senior International Projects Manager Yulia Tolkishevskaya）     Skolkovo innovation techno-park, announced on 12 November 2009 by then Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, is the initiative of the Federal Government of Russia to create an ecosystem that will facilitate development of entrepreneurship and research and commercialization of the products and services in 5 priority areas: energy efficiency, strategic computer technologies, biomedicine, nuclear technologies and space technologies.   Skolkovo is tasked with not only the development of technology start-ups but also marketing them correctly. The Skolkovo Foundation specifically supports free entrepreneurship and works with independent technological start-ups to ensure their success. To achieve its main objective, Skolkovo offers the following support mechanisms: financial support of participants’ projects; development of competencies with the help of world-class mentors, and raising funds through Skolkovo mechanisms such as investment associations; assistance with entering foreign markets; access to potential clients in Russia and abroad in order to determine technological areas of demand in the future and to create joint plans of development; accumulation of resources and competencies via partnerships with the Russian state institutions, major international companies, scientific institutions and innovative centers, venture investors.     Professor Li Pai-Chi from Taiwan University gave a speech（left：Deputy Vice President for International Affairs Prof. Bi-Fong Lin; mid: Vice President of Research and Development Pai-Chi Li; right: NTUILO Prof. Bo-Wen, Lin）     The R&D president of National Taiwan University Li Pai-Chi pointed out that "we believe that our university has much in common with Skolkovo." National Taiwan University has its own incubator (up to 130 new startups) and the Creative Accelerator, and invites well-known domestic industry professionals to serve as a team of industry mentors, which is similar to the Skolkovo Foundation system.     NTUILO CEO David Peng introduced the organizational structure and core values of the NTUILO     David Peng, CEO of the National Taiwan University Industry Liaison Office of National Taiwan University, said that the NTUILO in 2017. This unit serves as a hub between industry and the university.   So far, many Taiwanese companies have joined the membership and become an industry partner of Taiwan University. The NTUILO also combines the research and development energy of National Taiwan University with a total of 11 colleges and 3 professional colleges, including 5 international, 7 national, and 53 university based research centers. Cross-industry R&D technology and talent.   Peng stressed: "Taiwan's industry is closely integrated with the global technology chain, and we can become a bridge between the Skolkovo innovation techno-park and Taiwan's industrial chain." Nicola Suetin, Vice President of Science Education, Skolkovo, expressed optimism and look forward to, and expect further cooperation between the two sides in the future.     From left to right: NTUILO Deputy CEO Grace Chang, CEO David Peng, Prof. Bo-Wen Lin, Deputy Vice President for International Affairs Prof. Bi-Fong Lin, Vice President of Research and Development Pai-Chi Li; Senior VP for communication. Alexander Chernov, VP for Science and Education Nikolay Suetin, Senior International Projects Manager Yulia Tolkishevskaya, Prof. Chao-Ming Fu    

The 2018 BioGroup Symposium series annual meeting was held on December 28th in the International Conference Hall of Building C of the National Biotechnology Research Park. The conference responded to the national biotechnology with the theme of “Biotech Innovation, Industry and Education Integration – BioHub for Bio-Entrepreneurship”. and the open of the research park.         First of all, the meeting invited Minister Chen Liangji from the Ministry of Science and Technology to come to the scene to mention the origin of the BioGroup biotechnology talent exchange platform. It was the vice president of the National Taiwan University four years ago.         A group of young people from the Boston Taiwan Life Technology Association (BTBA) met with him. He was able to do his part for Taiwan's biotechnology. Therefore, Minister Chen started many projects in the following year and began to link foreign biotech talents with Taiwan biotechnology talents, hoping to form a stronger team. In addition, it is hoped that the talent exchange platform will integrate resources and talent teams for industry and academic clinical research. Chen also hope that we can make good use of the resources and talents of the National Biotechnology Park to help Taiwan's biotechnology find a better way out. Finally, we encourage scholars, experts and students to work together for the development of Taiwan's biomedical science.   The session A was “Drug Development Trend”, chaired by Professor Jiang Zhigang from the National Taiwan University Biotechnology Center, and the Deputy Chief Executive Ji Weiguang of the Development Center of the Biotechnology shared the trend of new drug development; Ionis Pharmaceutical researcher shared the antisense oligonucleoside The platform for the development of acid (antisense oligonucleotide (ASO); chairman of EirGenix, Inc Liu Licheng shared the development and market trends of biosimilar drugs; TaiMed Biologics New Drug Chen Mengyu, vice president of research and development, shared novel treatment methods for AIDS patients.   The session B was “Artificial Intelligence and Precision Medicine”, chaired by Professor Cai Mengxun from the National Taiwan University Biotechnology Center, and with the TCI Co., Ltd Chen Yan as the chief operating officer to promote precision care through bio-integrated design and bio-mining development; Instant NanoBiosensors Co., Ltd CEO Zhong Zunzhi shared the biomarkers for disease analysis through the Light Sensing Biometric Indicators; Hui Zhihong, General Manager of Sofiva Genomics, shared the latest developments in the application of precision medicine to maternal-fetal medicine, and the ATGENOMIX Asia-Pacific gene Zhang Mingtai CEO shared with big data. Bringing innovation in bioinformatics to genomic medicine.   The session C is "Communication and Communication between the International Biotechnology Society", hosted by the Secretary General of the PMMD Taiwan Precision Medical and Molecular Detection Industry Association, Mr. Yang Bojun, and shared by the Bluebird Bio Zhu Zhiqi Researcher Boston Boston Biotechnology Association (Boston) Origin and operation of Taiwanese Biotechnology Association, BTBA); Merck & Co Meng Xianwei shared overseas job-seeking job sharing; Wu Yifan, Ph.D. candidate for biochemistry and biophysics at the University of Texas, and Associate Professor Zhang Dianzheng from the University of Texas Health Science Center, Texas Institute of Biotechnology (Texas) Taiwanese Biotechnology Association, TTBA) and Taiwan Life Technology's opportunity to connect to the Internet in Texas; Dr. Yao Ruoqing from the University of Washington introduced the plans and related opportunities of the Midwest Taiwanese Biotechnology Association (MTBA); Julien Massiot Share with HSE AG how they enter the European-Taiwan Biotech Association (ETBA) and career development. Gliead Scicences shares the current situation and opportunities of the Bay Area Taiwanese Biotech Association (BATBA) and the Bay Area industry.   The session D was “Emerging Technology: Breakthrough and Transcendence from Immune Oncology to Regenerative Medicine”, and invited Thomas Huang, the chief operating officer of the GeneOnline gene line, as the moderator, and shared the application and development of regenerative medicine by AEON Yaen Health Doctor Wang Wei’an project manager. Trends and related clinical application cases; Director Huang Yanhua of Taipei Medical University shared the development of systemic safety allogeneic stem cell products, with special focus on aging and medical dissatisfaction; Meridigen Biotechnology CEO Lin Weili shared the practice and prospects of stem cell new drug development. Dr. Martin Sieber, Director of the BIONET CORP. Stem Cell Laboratory, shared regenerative medicine from the clinical end to the present.   The session E is "Taiwan's Biotechnology Opportunities and Challenges". The assistant CEO of Biohub Taiwan is the moderator, and the geneadata and bioinformatics are shared by Professor Zhuang Yuyu from Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University. Key elements; Researcher Chen Zhicheng of the Taiwan Animal Consortium introduced the National Integrated Mouse Phenotype and Efficacy Analysis Center of the only mouse clinic in Taiwan; Director Zhang Jiarong of Reber Genetic Co, Ltd. shared the epidemic disease of pigs and how to control them through innovative immunotherapy; Genomics You Zhuoyuan Chairman shared the selection of good breeding pigs and hogs through genomic analysis and big data analysis.         The session F is “Investment Profitability and Global Strategy: How to Go from Research to Commercialization”, hosted by David Peng, Executive Director of the National Taiwan University Industrial Liaison Office; and shared by Shen Zhilong, head of Taiwania Capital investment opportunities in biotechnology industry; Acorn Campus Taiwan partner Zhai Zhihao shared the investment evaluation model of venture capital for biomedical start-ups; Daiwa Corporate Investment Co., Ltd.  Chen Xuhui, deputy general manager shared the value of biotech companies to attract investment; Hong Shuohong, co-founder of MedJade, shared the auxiliary system for the analysis of the efficacy of depression; Professor Ye Kaiwen from the Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University shared the innovative breeding of the Wenxinlan industry in Taiwan; Assistant Professor Wang Yaoxian of the International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration of the National Cheng Kung University shared the skin collagen The application of protein in wound healing dressings. Professor Zeng Yufeng from Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University. shared the process and experience of SPARK from research to business.   The session G is “From Taiwan to the World”. The CEO of BioHub Taiwan Ding Shitong introduced the development of BioHub Taiwan in Nangang Biotechnology Park and David Peng, Executive Director of the National Taiwan University Industrial Liaison Office, and shared the introduction and future of the International Association of Industry and Technology of Taiwan University.