Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC) and National Kaohsiung Marine University (NKMU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on September 25th, the signing was witnessed by Yung-Fang, Chiu the Director of Harbor and Marine Technology Center, and Wen-Hsien Yang, the Section Chief at the Marine Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government. The parties formally announced that they would work together in the research and development of marine energy technologies and also talent cultivation. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) planed to establish the Kaohsiung Marine Technology Industry Innovation Zone at Xingda Fishing Port to achieve the goal of a nuclear-free homeland by 2025. The plan was established under the green energy infrastructure division of the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program, and responded to the Four-year Wind Power Promotion Plan and requirements of the offshore wind power industry. The MOEA hoped the zone would become a future base for research and development and manufacturing of the marine technology industry, and also the cultivation of green energy talent. MIRDC is the largest research and development institution in Kaohsiung. Working together with the only university in Taiwan that specializes in technical and vocational education for the marine industry would create synergistic effects. It will also benefit the subsequent implementation and development of the Kaohsiung Marine Technology Industry Innovation Zone.

Dr. Chiu-Feng Lin, the President of MIRDC, indicated that the government fully supports Taiwan's development of offshore wind power and the marine technology industry, as well as the plan to establish the Kaohsiung Marine Technology Industry Innovation Zone, the parties have engaged in exchanges and agree that it is necessary to utilize the resources of both parties to build collaborative relations between a research institute and academic institute. The signing of the MOU will intensify practical and academic experience exchanges, however, is only the first step for collaboration between the two parties.

Future collaborative contents include offshore wind power and marine technology talent cultivation; jointly forming a marine technology research team; planning research topics or projects for industry-academia collaboration; and making active efforts to obtain research and development resources under the government's policy to develop new marine energy. These resources will be utilized for the development of emerging industries in Southern Taiwan. Syue-Sinn Leu, the Acting President of NKMU, stated that NKMU is the only university in Taiwan that specializes in technical and vocational education for the marine industry, and working together with MIRDC would drive the development of the marine technology industry in Southern Taiwan. This would also increase industry-academia collaboration opportunities for faculty members and benefit the future employment of students.

MIRDC noted that both parties have different fields of expertise, and believes that they can collaborate in ship materials, underwater vehicles, underwater technology, aquaculture equipment, harbor affairs management, and talent cultivation.