A 10-member delegation from Taiwan Tech, led by President Jia-Yush Yen, embarked on a week-long European trip from Nov 13 to Nov 17. The packed itinerary included visits to research hubs around three partner universities: Eindhoven University of Technology (TU Eindhoven) in the Netherlands, Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) in Germany, and Braunschweig University of Technology (TU Braunschweig), both members of the prestigious TU 9 Alliance of German Universities of Technology. Due to the impact of the pandemic on international exchange, this marked President Yen’s first visit to European sister universities since assuming office in 2021.
The journey commenced with a visit to TU Eindhoven, a technological hub in the Netherlands and a university that has strategically prioritized sustainability in teaching, research, and everyday campus life.
President Yen extended an invitation to Dr. Robert-Jan Smits, the President of TU Eindhoven and a key figure in the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, to serve as a Taiwn Tech advisory committee member. This invitation was warmly accepted, and Dr. Smits’ visit to Taiwan is anticipated in 2024.
The German leg of the visit focused on semiconductor optoelectronic technology and battery research, with established cooperation in these areas. The trip aimed to extend its focus by delving into additional areas of joint research interests, such as mobility research, digital construction, and medical technology, fostering possibilities for further collaboration.
Dresden, a prominent semiconductor ecosystem in Europe, is the future site for TSMC’s investment in Europe. Taiwan Tech has joined the Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program, collaborating between Saxony and TSMC. The future plan involves hosting exchange students from TU Dresden, emphasizing theme-based learning of semiconductor-related topics and internships at the TSMC training center.
As TU Dresden had been a guest at Taiwan Tech in April of this year, TU-Dresden Rector Ursula Staudinger and President Yen took the opportunity to review the progress of the contract signed during that visit and explore concrete steps for future cooperation, especially in research.
It was a pleasure to host Taiwan Tech President Professor Jia-Yush Yen and his delegation here at TUD | Dresden University of Technology to discuss the next phase of our 10-year collaboration. We are looking forward to strengthening our ties in joint teaching, research, and internship programs specifically in micro- and nanoelectronics. Our new Saxon Science Liaison Office in Taiwan will be instrumental in easing exchange and cooperation in science, education, and innovation links between Taiwan and Saxony.
Professor Ursula Staudinger, Rector TU Dresden
The Delegation also visited research facilities such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems and NamLab Nano-Electronics Research Laboratory. Established in 2006 as a university-industry joint venture, NamLab is now a TU Dresden company.
The delegation was also welcomed by the Saxony State Government’s Department of Technology, Culture, and Tourism, as well as the Department of Education and Technology, underscoring the significance attached to the cooperation with Taiwan Tech.
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| At the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems in Dresden | Visiting the Battery Lab Factory at TU Braunschweig |
The group proceeded to Braunschweig on November 16 and arrived on time despite a railway strike. TU Braunschweig is a longstanding partner of Taiwan Tech, with a long history of student and joint research. Scientists from both universities have been collaborating on the government-funded Taiwan-Germany lithium battery project (LiBEST and LiBEST2) since 2017. The program In Braunschweig included guided tours of the Automotive and Aeronautics Research Centres Niedersachsen, the Battery Lab Factory, the Open Hybrid Lab Factory, the Laboratory of Emerging Nanometrology, and the Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering. Possibilities for strengthening cooperation between the two universities were explored during a meeting with the TUB senior management.
Taiwan Tech is a highly attractive partner for us. All researchers of TU Braunschweig are invited to participate and expand our collaboration. We would like to establish cooperation across the entire university. Today’s visit and the recently announced joint seed funding call are important steps in this direction.
Angela Ittel, President TU Braunschweig
The one-week tour strengthened our connections with European schools and was inspiring for all members of the delegation. Taiwan Tech is committed to engaging in transnational scientific research, fostering deeper levels of international exchange, and promoting research cooperation for a more comprehensive international development.
Members of the Taiwan Tech delegation
- President Prof. Jia-Yush Yen, President of Taiwan Tech, Professor of Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
- Professor San-Liang Li, Dean of the College of Industry-Academia Innovation,
- Professor of Dept. of Electronic and Computer Engineering
- Professor Bing-Joe Huang, Director of the Sustainable Energy Development Centre
- Professor Yian Tai, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Vice Dean of General Affairs.
- Prof. Chang-Fa Yang, Dean, Office of Industry-Academia Collaboration, Professor of Dept. of Electrical Engineering
- Prof. Ming-Jyh Chern, Dean, College of Engineering, Professor of Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
- Prof. Wei-Nien Su, Vice Dean, Office of Research and Development, Director, Technology Transfer Center, Professor of Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology
- Prof. Ying-Jung Yeh. Dean, Office of International Affairs, Professor of Dept. of Business Administration
- Prof. Ching-Wei Wang, Professor of Graduate Institute of Biomedical engineering
- Ms. Irene Tai-Lin Ho, Coordinator, Office of International Affairs
