For the purpose of integrating the R&D of MIRDC and expanding the linking of industry-academic research capabilities, MIRDC, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences (KUAS) and St. John’s University (SJU) held the signing and opening ceremony of the “3D Print Design Center” on October 11 at the campus of SJU. In the presence of Jen-Yi Lin, the Chairman of MIRDC, Dr. Chiu-Feng Lin, the President of MIRDC, Dr. Ching-Yu Yang, the president of KUAS, and Dr. He-Chang Ai, the president of SJU signed an agreement to form a strategic alliance. By combining the expertise and resources of the two universities from the north and the south, a layout based on “green energy, smart and health” industries has been decided in order to create a new maker platform to promote innovation, creativity and business ventures.
He-Chang Ai, the president of SJU, said that the flagship 3D Print Design Center is the of its kind among Taiwanese universities and a base for new business ventures. It incorporates new educational methods and trends including “interdisciplinary” and “maker” concept, and includes a continuous line of service starting from design to prototype making. The partnership has built up a mechanism for industry-academic cooperation, rapid model construction and sampling, as well as makerspace applications, in the hope of assisting regional related businesses with the development of innovative products in the future.
MIRDC is the only research institute that is dedicated to the metal-related R&D in Taiwan, and focuses on R&D of metal secondary processing, 3D printing sand mold casting, metal machining process and technologies, simulation analyses of metal products and process design, and providing technical consultancy services and technology transfer. In the future, MIRDC’s positive interactions with industry, the government and academia will be effectively utilized to construct a platform for resource sharing and exchanging.
In addition, the MIRDC is well experienced in assisting industry to undergo transformation and upgrading, and has not only further proposed innovative technologies and industrialized models for further development, but has also accumulated innovative R&D capabilities on a long-term basis. It has been planned to inject more innovative R&D abilities into academia and industry by applying the research energy from the “3D Printing Application and Technology” to fulfill this purpose. The partnership with KUAS and SJU will help MIRDC in further maintaining leadership in the field and enhancing cooperation with related industries and academia, encouraging relevant researches and technical exchanges, and promoting win-win outcome for all parties.