The Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC), led by President Lin Chiu-Feng, signed a memorandum of cooperation with Microsoft to further apply artificial intelligence (AI) in the digital transformation of traditional industries. The MIRDC launched the Center for Digital Transformation of Traditional Industries and AI Center of Excellence on May 2, 2018. The combination of the cloud computing platform, big data, and AI technologies from Microsoft will help traditional industries in developing AI applications based on the solid collaboration. After Microsoft established its AI Research Center in Taiwan, it collaborated with the MIRDC to set up AI solutions for different industry that will accelerate the digital transformation of traditional industries.

Dr. Chiu-Feng Lin, president of MIRDC indicated that: "The MIRDC has been a good partner to traditional industries for many years. The application of AI technologies in practical projects will continue to support traditional industries, help traditional industries plan and implement integrated solutions." The MIRDC will work together with Microsoft in three areas of application, including industrial strategy, innovative services, and smart manufacturing (e.g. the fastener industry, surface treatment industry, hand tools industry...). The MIRDC will further link the requirements of companies with industrial clusters through Microsoft, and provides innovative capabilities, which is expected to cultivate over 30 AI seed instructors who will contribute to its expansion.

Jessie Wang, president of Microsoft Taiwan said: "The MIRDC is equipped with stable and exceptional advantages in this wave of transformations around the world. The combination of cloud computing platform and AI technologies with Microsoft will construct automation and informatization to lead the development of smart manufacturing." In recent years, the MIRDC has been proactively promoting AI and expects to benefit every organization and industry through the development and application of AI, to use AI technology to resolve issues and to let people experience a better life. The launching of the Center for Digital Transformation of Traditional Industries and AI Center of Excellence is the latest result of collaboration between the MIRDC and Microsoft in AI. The cooperation shows the MIRDC's determination to use AI to add value to industries, and jointly apply AI in industries, accelerating the industrialization of AI technologies.