The Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC) recently organized the Wind Energy Careers Take Off: Siemens Gamesa Wind Turbine Technician Internship Sharing Session at Energy Taiwan, featuring partners from Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy S.A. (SGRE) and the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST). The event highlighted the achievements of local talent development in offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M). Representatives from all three organizations, along with former interns, shared their experiences, showcasing the concrete results of industry–academia collaboration in guiding young people into the green energy industry. This sharing session is a significant milestone for the Local Offshore Wind Operations and Maintenance Technician Training Program. Since the collaboration began, MIRDC has been responsible for delivering pre-internship professional training, including GWO basic safety training, three foundational technical courses, lifting and rigging signals training, and SGRE technical courses, to help trainees develop safety awareness and professional skills before they begin their wind farm internships. The training effectively reduces the learning gap and enhances offshore wind power O&M capabilities.

SGRE has successfully established a localized talent development model for offshore wind power in collaboration with MIRDC and NKUST over the past two years. 100% of the interns in the first group secured full-time positions, demonstrating the success of the program. This year, our scope continues to expand, and several trainees have officially joined offshore O&M teams. The combination of theoretical coursework and practical training helped trainees improve their safety awareness, technical skills, and on-site experience. We will further enhance cooperation to develop more locally trained technicians who meet international standards, establishing a long-term foundation for Taiwan’s offshore wind energy industry.

NKUST has been actively promoting industry–academia collaboration, partnering with several offshore wind developers in recent years to cultivate talent in the green energy industry together. Students participated in offshore wind internships and projects through collaborative industry-academia programs, gaining hands-on experience in wind farm operations, equipment maintenance, and safety management. This experience enhances the connection between theory and practice while developing the skills necessary for future careers in green energy. Students commonly reported that their internship experience enhanced classroom knowledge and deepened their recognition and commitment to the green energy industry. Industry partners commended NKUST students for their professionalism and eagerness to learn, highlighting their strong technical potential and teamwork skills. NKUST will continue to deepen partnerships with the offshore wind power and renewable energy industries. The university aims to broaden internship opportunities and deepen its curriculum to promote integrated, knowledge-to-practice green-energy education, cultivate talent with global perspectives and sustainability-driven thinking, and support Taiwan’s energy transition and industry development.

Chia-Ju Liu, Chairman of MIRDC, stated that the long-term collaboration among MIRDC, SGRE, and NKUST has successfully established a model for offshore wind power technology training and employment. She also thanked Wei-Te Chen, Director of MIRDC’s Maritime Innovation & Industry Promotion Department, for leading the team in organizing the sharing session. This event highlighted the tangible achievements of industry-academia-research collaboration in technical training and talent matching. Notably, both graduates featured in this year’s sharing session successfully passed SGRE’s selection process and became wind turbine technicians. This not only sets an example for young people entering the green energy industry but also symbolizes a milestone in the localization and sustainable development of offshore wind power talent. Building a comprehensive talent cultivation system for Taiwan’s offshore wind power industry requires starting from industry needs and integrating government policies, academia capabilities, and international enterprise resources to create a training model that fulfills global standards while reflecting local characteristics. This collaboration with SGRE and NKUST has successfully established a dual-track mechanism for technical training and employment matching, providing young people with a clear pathway for development in the green energy industry. MIRDC will continue to collaborate with industry and academic partners to enhance training capabilities and globalization, supporting Taiwan in developing a sustainable, self-reliant offshore wind power workforce and contributing to the nation’s energy transition and net-zero goals.

For more information, please contact: Scott Wang, Marketing and Sales Manager of MIRDC, mobile: 0919-828632, e-mail: scott.wang@mail.mirdc.org.tw; Bernice Chen, Global Offshore Communications Lead of Siemens Gamesa, email: bernice.chen@siemens-energy.com; Tsung-Chieh Cheng, Associate Chairman of NKUST’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, email: tcchengme@nkust.edu.tw.