NCUE is proactively intensifying its partnerships with local industries, with a specific emphasis on bolstering interdisciplinary collaboration among neighboring educational institutions, especially strategic alliances with regional universities and industry stakeholders. These collaborative efforts provide NCUE with valuable insights into industry needs, facilitate the adaptation of the school’s research focus, and offer practical hands-on experiences. Consequently, NCUE is well-equipped to strategize and implement cross-institutional, interdisciplinary, and startup-oriented collaborative projects. This approach substantially amplifies the capacity and impact of NCUE’s industry-academia partnership initiatives. The relevant implementation strategies are as follows:

1. NCUE actively participated in various industry-academia collaboration projects (Table 1). In 2023, a total of 415 projects were executed by the faculty, with an amount exceeding NTD$47,130,000. Compared to 2022, the number of executed projects increased by 9.1%. NCUE continuously put effort in assisting businesses in enhancing their competitiveness and fostering collaboration between the industrial and academic sectors.

2. NCUE fostered collaboration between NCUE’s faculty and businesses to develop new products and technologies. Actively seek government research and development subsidies and resources.

3. NCUE provided technical training courses for businesses, and support students in internships and competitions to cultivate professionals in the fields of green energy and smart manufacturing.

4. Through regional cross-institutional alliance mechanisms, NCUE and other schools jointly promote specialized knowledge in smart manufacturing, green energy, and carbon reduction. In addition, the alliance offered entrepreneurship and business development courses to facilitate the commercialization of research and development outcomes.

5. NCUE organized intellectual property and innovation entrepreneurship cultivation events, and provided expertise in patent protection for smart manufacturing and research and development products. NCUE also promoted the research and development achievements of campus-derived enterprises.

6. Key Achievements:

NCUE collaborated with National Chung Hsing University, Hungkuang University, Tunghai University, National Chiayi University, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, National Taipei University of Technology, and National Chin-Yi University of Technology on the “Central Taiwan Cross-Institutional Integrated Research and Industrialization Platform Project,” aiming to foster expertise in smart manufacturing and green energy reduction, offering entrepreneurial and business incubation programs to promote industrial innovation, and facilitate the commercialization of research and development outcomes.

(1) The project assisted 64 businesses by engaging 63 experts and scholars, along with 121 students, to support these businesses in their industry and technology upgrades from 2020 to 2023. This effort contributes to strengthening the operational and research and development capabilities of Taiwan’s small and medium-sized manufacturing factories. It also enhanced the expandability of smart manufacturing technologies required by various industries.

(2) NCUE provided assistance to its faculty in jointly developing new products and technologies with businesses. From 2020 to 2023, there were 19 cases of new product and technology development, resulting in two patent applications from two different businesses through industry-academia collaboration.

(3) The project actively assisted faculty and businesses in applying for government subsidies (local or central). In 2023, a subsidy of NTD$2,400,000 was secured.

(4) NCUE conducted technical and talent training courses in response to the needs of businesses in industrial areas. In 2023, 2 large-scale technical and talent training sessions were organized.

(5) NCUE offered substantial support and guidance to its faculty for establishing start-ups rooted in their patented research and development work in 2023. Professor Tsung-chi Lin from the Department of Biology received approval from the National Science and Technology Council for the 2022 Taiwan Germination Program (MOST Germination Program), with approved funding totaling NTD$7,600,000.

(6) The universities of the project organized a seminar focusing on intellectual property, innovation, entrepreneurship incubation, along with an exhibition showcasing the research and development achievements. This event served to provide faculty members from NCUE and other universities and colleges nationwide with a profound understanding of intellectual property, patent strategies, and patent protection for campus-derived enterprises. Additionally, it aimed for the promotion of research and development outcomes.

Table 1. Achievements of National Science and Technology Council Projects, Non-National Science and

Technology Council Projects, and Industry-Academia Projects executed by NCUE’s faculty members in 2023