▎PEOPLE

The Zhubei Campus Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative was officially launched with a grand ceremony by National Taiwan University (NTU) in Hsinchu on December 13, 2024. The four main functions of this initiative are to support “Cutting-edge Technology Research,” “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation,” “Industry-Academia Collaboration,” and “Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development.” The initiative will form an innovation hub that connects local industries with a unifying global vision, while driving the new wave of campus entrepreneurship. The ceremony was attended by several key leaders, including Ching-ching Liu, Chairman of the National Development Council, and Wen-ke Yang, the Magistrate of Hsinchu County, together with other local representatives.

Zhubei Campus will be developed in several phases, with an initial investment of NTD 1.8 billion. During the first phase Pei-Tsen Hall will be renovated and the “Next-Generation Smart 3D Land Information Center” and a “Clubhouse and Lifestyle Service Facility” and related units will be constructed to meet both research and living needs. During the mid-term phase the “Forward-Looking Joint R&D Building” and “Technology Innovation and Research Building” will be constructed to enhance research and development capacities in innovation and entrepreneurship. During the last phase, the “Smart Healthcare Building” and “Semiconductor Quantum Center Building” will be constructed, to support advancements in smart healthcare and semiconductor quantum technology. The total investment in hardware infrastructure is expected to exceed NTD 10 billion, with short-term funding provided by NTU and medium- to long-term investments to be raised through donations and public-private partnerships.

In addition to infrastructure, NTU is introducing an array of related academic programs. In particular, new entrepreneurial programs (e.g., semiconductor chip startups, smart healthcare entrepreneurship) are envisioned, adding value to the university’s master’s degree programs. NTU is also strengthening industry-academia collaboration. A venture capital and advisory company will be established to promote alumni-backed venture funds; a commitment of NTD 1 billion in investments from private enterprises and the government has already been secured.

A strategic advantage of Zhubei Campus is its close ties to the Hsinchu Science Park and Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park. Campus programs will be focused on semiconductors, quantum technology, AI, and smart healthcare, and related areas, while deepening innovation and entrepreneurship programs as well as talent cultivation. NTU will use the Industry Innovation Center as a platform to perfect the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing funding and professional mentorship to entrepreneurial teams.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, President Wen-Chang Chen pointed out that the Zhubei campus has four key advantages: its connection to research institutions, talent cultivation in high-tech industries, integration of government resources, and promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship. NTU has established the Industry Innovation Center and partnered with both the private sector and government to create a venture capital advisory company that supports deep-tech startups.

In response to the challenge posed by global climate change, NTU has also launched the “Science and Technology Research Institute of DE-Carbonization,” focused on the development of geothermal energy and carbon sequestration technologies. The “Next-Generation Smart 3D Land Information Center” project at Zhubei Campus will harness resources to use AI for analyzing 3D land information, helping Taiwan achieve its net-zero emissions goals and providing technological support for a sustainable future.