Taiwan and India Sign MOU on Industry-Academia Collaboration to Cultivate Professional Technical Talent

In a landmark move for cross-strait academic and industrial collaboration, National Formosa University (NFU) from Taiwan, technology firm AGEM, and India's Chennai Institute of Technology (CIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen higher education, industrial innovation, and scientific research cooperation between Taiwan and India.

On the 9th, CIT, NFU, and AGEM Co., Ltd. (AGEM) formally signed the MOU on industry-academia collaboration and jointly established the 'Chennai Industry-Academia Collaboration Office.' This office will serve as a key hub for NFU and AGEM to promote industry-academia partnerships, technological research and development, and talent cultivation across the greater Chennai region. The signing and inauguration ceremony was witnessed by Hsu Shu-Chih, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Chennai, along with Yang Long-Jie, Head of the Science and Technology Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, and Secretary Chang Ya-Hui.

NFU emphasized that this agreement marks a significant milestone in Taiwan-India industry-academia cooperation. Moving forward, the partnership will integrate CIT’s strengths in engineering education and international talent development, AGEM’s industry expertise and practical R&D experience in semiconductor specialty chemicals, and NFU’s capabilities in thermochemistry, cryogenic engineering, and industry-academia linkage. Together, they aim to build an international platform for collaborative research and innovation, with the Chennai office and training facilities serving as central bases to deepen exchanges in talent development, technological advancement, and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and India.

Dr. Yang Shou-Yin, International Director of NFU’s Office of International Affairs, explained in an interview with Central News Agency that both Taiwan and India face a growing demand for skilled professionals. Under the MOU, CIT will recruit students into the program, who will then be screened and分流ed into two pathways: one group will join AGEM’s Indian subsidiary directly, while the other will first pursue advanced studies at NFU before joining AGEM and returning to work in India.

Yang stated, 'We hope this collaboration will help NFU and AGEM attract more talent, enhance AGEM’s corporate competitiveness and global footprint. As a key talent incubator for AGEM in India, NFU will support the growth of India’s outstanding talent and academic influence.'

Director Hsu highlighted that this is the first MOU on semiconductor-related industry-academia collaboration between Taiwan and South India, making it particularly significant. He encouraged the approximately 300 students present to strive for excellence and become future 'Ambassadors of Innovation.'

Hsu noted that Taiwan holds a leading edge in semiconductors, smart manufacturing, automation, and industrial innovation, while India boasts abundant engineering talent, strong research capabilities, and a robust IT infrastructure. The complementary strengths have already yielded cooperation in electronics manufacturing, and this tripartite collaboration is expected to further strengthen industry, academia, and research ties between the two nations.

The Science and Technology Division at the Taipei Representative Office in India has long promoted bilateral tech collaboration and research integration. It expressed confidence that this MOU will facilitate the localization of research outcomes and create new opportunities for innovative applications, providing tangible benefits to Taiwan-India technological cooperation.

Chennai Institute of Technology is a rapidly growing higher education institution in India, known for its industry-integrated curriculum and practical teaching approach. The institute actively engages in research and talent development in engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and Industry 4.0, and has established partnerships with numerous international corporations and academic institutions, offering students rich internship and global exchange opportunities.

AGEM Co., Ltd. is a Taiwan-based company specializing in semiconductor specialty chemical gas technologies. It has maintained a close partnership with NFU in R&D and talent cultivation. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan, AGEM has established a subsidiary in India.