Taiwan's First! Feng Chia University Partners with Fraunhofer Society to Establish Innovation Platform

Feng Chia University has been tirelessly promoting international cooperation and has collaborated with the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (Fraunhofer IST) for nearly a decade. During this period, the collaboration projects included bilateral industry-academia cooperation, joint seminars and forums, the establishment of joint laboratories, personnel exchanges, and the joint proposal of cooperation plans. With fruitful cooperation results, the world's largest applied research organization, the Fraunhofer Society, and Feng Chia University agreed to expand their cooperation and jointly establish an international innovation platform on campus, named the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Surface and Production Engineering for Optical and Electrical Systems at Feng Chia University (FIP-SPE@FCU). The platform was officially inaugurated today (28th), marking the first Fraunhofer FIP international innovation applied research organization in Taiwan.

The Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Surface and Production Engineering for Optical and Electrical Systems at Feng Chia University (FIP-SPE@FCU) was officially inaugurated today (28th).

Today (28th), more than 200 experts, scholars, and corporate partners participated in witnessing the important milestone of cooperation between Feng Chia University and Germany's Fraunhofer.

In her opening speech at the FIP-SPE@FCU inauguration, President Vey Wang of Feng Chia University stated that this is Taiwan's first Fraunhofer innovation platform, marking a new chapter in the cooperation between Feng Chia University and Fraunhofer. She expressed gratitude for Fraunhofer Society's long-term trust and cooperation and pledged that Feng Chia University will fully support the platform to promote technological exchange and cooperation between Taiwan and Germany. Dr. Johann Feckl from Fraunhofer Headquarters reviewed the ten years of cooperation between the two parties and emphasized the importance of this collaboration in advancing technology in the fields of surface and production engineering for optical and electrical systems. Dr. Feckl stated that the cooperation will continue to deepen in the future, achieving a win-win situation.

The Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Surface and Production Engineering for Optical and Electrical Systems at Feng Chia University (FIP-SPE@FCU) focuses on surface and production engineering technologies for optoelectronic and electrical systems, aiming to become a bridge for industry-academia-research cooperation between Taiwan and Germany, further promoting diverse exchanges and cooperation. Combining Fraunhofer Society's globally leading technologies and experiences in precision optics, coating technology, surface treatment technology, intelligent monitoring, and hydrogen energy with Feng Chia University's research capabilities in materials, optoelectronics, automatic control, industrial engineering, and electrical engineering, the two parties will jointly enhance industrial technology capabilities, cultivate high-level R&D talents needed by the industry, and strengthen international competitiveness.

Fraunhofer Society started global connections through the Fraunhofer Project Center (FPC) and recently proposed the FIP model. To date, both FPC and FIP have proven effective in developing innovative technologies and introducing them to the industry. There are currently 14 FIPs and FPCs worldwide, each with specific cooperation topics, and the participating academic and research institutions are globally renowned. The FIP-SPE@FCU, established by Feng Chia University and Fraunhofer Society, becomes Fraunhofer Society's first base in Taiwan and was inaugurated on October 28th. The platform has actively linked with Taiwan's industry and research units, jointly investing in R&D projects such as new material development, process optimization, and key equipment autonomy, injecting innovative momentum into Taiwan's industry.

Feng Chia University becomes the only Fraunhofer Society base in Taiwan and the fifth FIP established in Asia, demonstrating the international recognition and support for Feng Chia University's applied research. Additionally, Feng Chia University, with its superior geographical location, is adjacent to the rapidly developing Shui-Nan Economic and Trade Park and the Central Taiwan Science Park, which are related to the surface and production engineering fields of optical and electrical systems, occupying an important strategic position and role. Feng Chia University will also actively promote international cooperation with alliance schools in the Tsing Hua Five Universities Alliance, including National Tsing Hua University, National Chengchi University, Fu Jen Catholic University, and Tamkang University, linking the international industrial system to assist in the upgrading and innovation of domestic industries.

The newly established FIP-SPE@FCU initially covers multiple departments within the College of Engineering and Science and the College of Information and Electrical Engineering at Feng Chia University, including the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Photonics, Department of Automatic Control Engineering, and Department of Industrial Engineering and Systems Management. This will further consolidate the partnership between Fraunhofer Society and Feng Chia University, achieving knowledge sharing, resource acquisition, and joint R&D projects. Such cooperation will improve research quality, accelerate technology transfer, and promote industrial innovation. The close interaction between researchers and faculty and students from both sides will also create more opportunities for outstanding students from Feng Chia and alliance schools to connect with European academic and research institutions, planning and developing their careers, and is expected to help Feng Chia University play an important role in international alignment within the National Science and Technology Council's Tsing Hua Five Universities Alliance and the Excellent Long-Established University Consortium of Taiwan.

Taiwan's first Fraunhofer FIP international innovation applied research organization was officially inaugurated at Feng Chia University today (28th). From left to right: Ju-Liang He, Chair Professor and Center Director of the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Surface and Production Engineering for Optical and Electrical Systems at Feng Chia University; Dr.-Ing. Ralf Bandorf from Fraunhofer IST; President Vey Wang of Feng Chia University; Dr. Johann Feckl from Fraunhofer Headquarters; and Eric Kuo-Hao Tang, Vice-President of Feng Chia University.