The Featured Areas Research Center Program

The Advanced Institute of Manufacturing with High-tech Innovations (AIM-HI) is a distinctive research center supported continuously by the Ministry of Education since the "Toward Top Universities Program." It is one of the few research centers focused on machine tools and precision manufacturing, and is built upon over 30 years of research and development in the field of "Advanced Manufacturing Systems" at National Chung Cheng University.

Under the previous phase of support (2018–2021), AIM-HI has made significant progress, transitioning from individual machine intelligence to smart manufacturing units and entire production lines. Several smart manufacturing technologies have been developed, such as:

1. IT cybersecurity for the Internet of Machines, sensor technologies for smart manufacturing systems, and the application of artificial intelligence in smart manufacturing systems.
2. Multi-axis precision machining for composite processing, 3D printing, and precision measurement.
3. Industry applications in digital healthcare, tooth surface optimization, and human-machine collaboration.

In recent years, topics like Industrial cyber security for smart manufacturing, net-zero carbon emissions in manufacturing, and precision healthcare have become critical issues affecting the international competitiveness of Taiwan's industries. To assist in national innovation and industrial development, enhance the autonomy of key technologies, cultivate high-level R&D talent, and play a significant role in the knowledge economy, AIM-HI has planned the construction of a comprehensive OT (Operational Technology) field for Industrial cyber security under the second phase of the Higher Education SPROUT Project (2023–2027). In 2024, AIM-HI successfully passed the international Industrial cyber security IEC62443-2-4 certification. The four major development directions include:

1. Electric Vehicle Transmission System: Application of smart manufacturing technology in electric vehicles and intelligent unmanned vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.
2. Digital healthcare Materials: Application of smart manufacturing in the manufacturing and processing of medical devices for precision healthcare.
3. Semiconductor Manufacturing Process: Application of smart manufacturing in precision machining for semiconductor processes.
4. Low Carbon Manufacturing: Green manufacturing systems focused on carbon reduction in manufacturing processes, aiming for net-zero carbon emissions.

Through the development of the above technologies, the goal is to assist Taiwan's manufacturing industry in enhancing its competitiveness and strengthening sustainability efforts. The implementation of the project will be divided into the following five areas:

1. Deepening Talent Cultivation: Train master's and doctoral level researchers specializing in smart manufacturing technologies, Industrial cyber security, and green carbon reduction. Actively recruit outstanding international talents to fill the domestic talent gap in industrial control cybersecurity, green carbon reduction, and smart manufacturing.
2. Advancing Academic Performance: Increase the publication and impact of high-quality research papers, strengthen cooperation with major international universities (including benchmarking centers) for joint research and paper publications, and enhance the citation rate of research papers to improve the research influence of AIM-HI.
3. Advancing Academic Performance: Increase the publication and impact of high-quality research papers, strengthen cooperation with major international universities (including benchmarking centers) for joint research and paper publications, and enhance the citation rate of research papers to improve the research influence of AIM-HI.
4. Fulfilling Social Contribution: Actively assist AIM-HI's technology research and development outcomes in generating new startups, increase the number and value of domestic and international industry-academia cooperation and technology transfer, and actively collaborate with local governments and regional primary and secondary schools to promote AIM-HI's technological knowledge, fulfilling its social responsibility.
5. Striving for Benchmarking Center: In the short term, AIM-HI will target North Carolina State University's (NCSU) Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center (SMIC) as a benchmark. Through learning from the benchmarking center, both parties will engage in technological cooperation, jointly publish journal papers, exchange faculty, students, and researchers, and organize international advisory board and forums to improve the CCU's world university rankings. In the mid-term, the goal is to visit various institutions in the CESMII alliance to understand their technological development directions and application fields, organizing workshops to engage in substantial exchanges on specific topics. In the long term, AIM-HI aims to support Taiwanese companies joining the U.S. manufacturing supply chain through international industry-academia cooperation with local U.S. companies.