UNDIP, Taiwan (May 12, 2025) — Bright skies and warm sunshine welcomed the Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) delegation as they began their first day of official visits in Taiwan, led by Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si. The visit was a special invitation extended by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) addressed to UNDIP.
In recognition of UNDIP’s engagement, the MoE assigned Mr. Yita Chen, Education Secretary from the Department of International and Cross-Strait Education, to accompany the UNDIP delegation throughout their working visits to eight universities and one Science and Technopark.
The first visit, on Monday, May 12, 2025, took the UNDIP delegation from Taipei to Hsinchu to meet with National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). NTHU Vice-President Prof. Ta-Jen Yen, Ph.D., and other university leaders warmly welcomed the UNDIP delegation.
Prof. Hsiang-Yu Wang, Ph.D., Vice-President of the Office of Global Affairs, expressed enthusiasm for potential partnerships with UNDIP. He highlighted the NTHU’s Centers of Excellence and longstanding collaborations with industries in fields such as Nuclear Science, Brain Research, and Quantum Technology.
Meanwhile, Prof. Chih-Yung Huang, Ph.D., from the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, showcased NTHU’s progress in developing non-invasive medical technologies for cancer therapy, especially brain and vertebral cancers, which are relatively tricky to combat even by surgery. NTHU researchers also develop medical equipment, such as therapy devices—an area also being explored at UNDIP.
UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., voiced UNDIP’s commitment to strengthening academic relations with NTHU and advancing applied research for industry use. “We are eager to deepen collaboration with NTHU, particularly in research and innovation, and we are ready for industrial application. This agenda aligns with UNDIP’s vision of delivering noble education and valuable research for society,” he said.
Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, Partnerships, and Public Communication, Wijayanto, S.I.P., M.Si., Ph.D., welcomed the significant potential for collaboration with NTHU, especially in applied research and technological development. Furthermore, Prof. Didik Wisnu Wijayanto, from UNDIP’s International Office Steering Committee, also emphasized hopes for student exchange and academic partnerships. “We see enormous potential for collaboration, especially in the development of applied research and technology that can provide tangible benefits to society,” he said.
drh. Dian Wahyu Harjanti, Ph.D., Director of Innovation, Research Commercialization, and Partnerships at UNDIP expressed admiration for Taiwan’s rapid industrialization and university-driven innovation. The applied technology also comes from research results from universities.
“I’m impressed by Taiwan’s strong link and match between universities and industries, supported by cohesive policies, funding, and management at both university and government levels. For example, the incubation management and support for technology-based start-ups at NTHU was put forward by Prof. David Lin as Chief of Operation Center for Industry Collaboration,” she said.
The meeting concluded with a firm handshake between UNDIP and NTHU representatives, symbolizing mutual commitment to long-term collaboration.
Later, to explore knowledge and best practices in research commercialization, the UNDIP delegation visited the Hsinchu Science Park Bureau – part of the National Science and Technology Council – just 30 minutes from NTHU.
Prof. Ming-Che Lin, Senior Specialist in the Investment Division, outlined Taiwan’s dynamic ecosystem integrating academia, industry, government, and R&D organizations (Science Technopark). Taiwan’s integrated circuit (IC) industry—the largest in the world—was showcased as a prime example, with the ICs serving as the foundational components of modern devices, including smartphones, as concluded by Prof. Ming Che Lin.
The visit clearly demonstrated Taiwan’s strong and agile model for linking research to industry. Collaborations between UNDIP and Taiwanese universities and technoparks are expected to raise UNDIP’s international standing while improving educational quality, graduate competitiveness, and the real-world impact of research. These efforts echo UNDIP’s core values and tagline: “UNDIP, Noble and Valuable.” (Public Communication/UNDIP-Dirinovki/Dian W.H./ed. Nurul)
