International Cooperation

In 2024, international collaboration efforts focused on enhancing international exchange. Building on the relationships established in the first year with renowned academic and research institutions worldwide, AIM-HI aimed to deepen the content of these exchanges. At the same time, research team members were actively encouraged to participate in various international academic activities to stay abreast of global research trends and promote international collaboration opportunities.
Additionally, several international conferences related to the field of smart manufacturing were held to boost international visibility.

1. Promoting International Academic Researcher Exchange：

1. Inviting Renowned Scholars from the U.S. for Academic Visits and Short-term Exchange Programs:
   AIM-HI continues to invite internationally renowned scholars to engage in academic exchanges, deepening collaboration and research outcomes. In 2023, Professor Karsten Stahl from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany, was invited to give a lecture on the development trends of transmission components and gears in electric vehicles. He also participated in a professional forum on gear manufacturing, where he discussed potential future collaboration models with scholars and industry experts, laying a foundation for Taiwan’s gear technology development.
   In addition, Professor Tsu-Chin Tsao from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), was invited for two consecutive years to conduct academic exchanges in the fields of manufacturing and control. Professor Tsao, who has extensive experience in industry-academia collaboration and serves as a consultant for the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), provides key technical direction and talent development advice for Taiwan’s smart manufacturing sector.
   In 2024, Professor Zongli Lin from the University of Virginia and Professor Greg Sun from the University of Massachusetts Boston were invited. They respectively shared insights on drone swarm technology and light field enhancement technology, facilitating collaborative research in smart control and optoelectronics.


2. Visiting International Academic Institutions and Conducting Overseas Research to Enhance the AIM-HI's Global Academic Capacity:
   AIM-HI actively engages in global academic exchanges, collaborating with leading universities and research institutions in the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and others to deepen international relations and foster technological innovation.
   In July 2024, Professor Her-Terng Yau led a research team to the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to explore the integration of robotics and artificial intelligence. In August, also visited the LURPA Laboratory of Automation and Production at Université Paris-Saclay, where they exchanged ideas with Associate Director Professor Nabil Anwer on hybrid additive manufacturing and metal 3D printing technologies, offering new perspectives for future research.
   They also visited the Machine Tools and Production Systems Laboratory at Politecnico di Milano and engaged in discussions with Professor Paolo Albertelli, sharing results in the field of advanced manufacturing and exploring possibilities for collaboration and data sharing. Additionally, the team visited École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland and exchanged insights with the Transport and Perception Lab on optimization technologies for drone deployment and wind turbine installation.
   Furthermore, Professor Guo-En Chang visited the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) research institute in Germany and toured the Ion Beam Center, initiating plans for collaboration and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote faculty and student exchanges as well as academic cooperation.
   These international academic exchanges have significantly strengthened the Center’s foundation for global collaboration in smart manufacturing and advanced technology fields.

2. Active Participation in International Academic Activities：

In the past year, AIM-HI’s research members actively engaged in international academic activities, making significant contributions to the advancement of smart manufacturing. A total of 25 members participated in various international academic services, including roles as conference speakers, journal editors, and members of academic societies. Several members served as editors for renowned journals such as those under ASME and IEEE, continuously advancing scholarly work in the field.
In addition, 29 faculty members and students participated in international conferences worldwide, fostering academic exchange and collaboration while broadening students’ global perspectives and research capabilities. Notable events included the IEEE/ASME AIM 2024 in Boston, USA, and the 7th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems and Technologies (SEST 2024) in Torino, Italy. Other members attended major conferences in Poland, Thailand, Japan, and Spain, covering research areas such as power harmonics, industrial engineering, and energy materials. These experiences not only enhanced academic visibility but also promoted interdisciplinary collaboration, thereby strengthening the center’s global academic influence.
AIM-HI also launched six international collaborative research projects with academic institutions in the United States, India, Russia, Japan, and Thailand. Several projects have progressed into second year, while new collaborations, such as that between Associate Professor Kun-Mo Lin and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand, have recently commenced. This collaboration focuses on atmospheric plasma-assisted natural gas combustion and pollution analysis, offering innovative perspectives and technical contributions to the fields of energy and the environment.

3. Hosting International Conferences and Workshops to Enhance Global Visibility：

To further promote international academic exchange, AIM-HI organized or co-organized four international conferences both domestically and abroad in 2023 and 2024. These events strengthened AIM-HI’s academic ties with leading global scholars in smart manufacturing and provided opportunities for the exchange of knowledge and expertise.
In August 2023, AIM-HI co-hosted the “Future Trends in Gear Transmission Forum” with the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry, featuring Professor Karsten Stahl from the Technical University of Munich. The “Taiwan-Germany Mechanical Transmission Forum 2023” followed, deepening bilateral cooperation in mechanical transmission research.
In 2024, AIM-HI partnered with College of Engineering in CCU to co-host the “2024 Taiwan-Thailand Symposium on Engineering & Technology,” welcoming scholars and students from six prominent Thai universities. Discussions focused on cutting-edge technologies in environment and energy, automation, and optoelectronics. AIM-HI also co-organized the “2024 International Conference on Mechatronic, Automobile and Environmental Engineering” at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, drawing participants from Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Later, AIM-HI contributed to the organization of the “E-MRS 2024 Fall Meeting” in Warsaw, Poland, which attracted over 1,500 participants, laying the groundwork for future international collaborations. Additionally, AIM-HI co-hosted “The 21st International Conference on Automation Technology (AUTOMATION 2024)” with National Taiwan University, further enhancing its global reputation and fostering academic dialogue with top-tier researchers in the field.

4. Reinstating the International Advisory Board to Advance Global Smart Manufacturing Research：

After being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, AIM-HI's International Advisory Board was reinstated in 2023 with the relaunch of the AIM-HI International Advisory Board Meeting. Esteemed scholars, including Professor Yusuf Altintas (University of British Columbia, Canada), Professor Ragu Athinarayanan (Purdue University, USA), Professor Steven Y. Liang (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA), Professor Tsu-Chin Tsao (University of California, Los Angeles, USA), and Professor Yuan-Shin Lee (North Carolina State University, USA), participated in this event.
During the meeting, board members were briefed on the progress of the AIM-HI’s four strategic areas in smart manufacturing and visited Chung Cheng University’s laboratories to view demonstrations of technologies such as digital dentistry, SLM metal printing, and intelligent tool holders. In addition, 14 remote board members from institutions including the Technical University of Munich, University of Birmingham, and Nagoya University reviewed project results and provided expert feedback. Notably, 72% of international board members rated AIM-HI’s research and technological capabilities as ranking within the top 5% to 10% of the world’s leading research centers. Their valuable insights have guided AIM-HI in evaluating performance, identifying areas for improvement, and shaping strategic, globally aligned directions in smart manufacturing.

5. MOU with Purdue University to Cultivate Talent in Smart Manufacturing：

In 2023, AIM-HI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Purdue University, marking a new milestone in international academic cooperation. This partnership aims to deepen collaboration in smart manufacturing and foster strong institutional ties between National Chung Cheng University and Purdue University. Under this agreement, students and researchers from both institutions will have the opportunity to engage in international exchange programs and explore a wide range of smart manufacturing technologies. Collaborative research projects are also planned, enabling greater academic interaction and fostering breakthroughs in the field.
Moreover, the partnership envisions tripartite collaborations with industry partners, particularly in sectors such as semiconductors. Through these joint initiatives, AIM-HI aims to cultivate high-level talent equipped with the skills needed for future industrial demands.