NCKU Signs Strategic Alliance with the Republic of China Military Academy to Enhancing R&D Competitiveness-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and the Republic of China Military Academy (ROCMA) signed a strategic alliance agreement on October 16 at the Yun-Ping Administration Building conference room on NCKU’s Kuang-Fu Campus to promote academic and cultural exchanges and advance technology-driven research and development. Under the agreement, both parties will engage in substantive collaboration and research in areas such as talent cultivation, equipment, technology, and academic resources, jointly nurturing officers and professionals with broad perspectives and high qualifications for the nation.

The agreement was signed by NCKU Vice President Yong-Chun Li (李永春) and ROCMA Superintendent General Fang-Rong Tan (譚芳榮). More than 20 attendees witnessed the ceremony, including ROCMA officials such as Political Warfare Director Colonel Pei-Yi Chuang (莊霈儀), Undergraduate Director Professor Kuei-Hu Chang (張桂琥), Academic Affairs Director Colonel Shui-Chuan Chang (張水泉), and Student Affairs Director Colonel Tsung-Yu Yu (余宗育). NCKU representatives included Provost Sheng-Chih Shen (沈聖智), Vice R&D Director Yi-Hsun Wu (吳意珣), and Deputy Director of Student Affairs Yu-Ting Wu (吳毓庭).

NCKU and ROCMA first signed a five-year strategic alliance at the end of 2020, which was recognized as highly effective by both parties. The initial phase focused on bilingual training for senior leadership talent, including jointly promoting a bilingual faculty development program, laying a solid foundation for cultivating high-level leaders with international mobility for the country.

Vice President Yong-Chun Li stated that NCKU has long been committed to technological innovation and forward-looking research, actively serving as a scientific research base in line with national policies. The university possesses strong R&D capabilities in aerospace, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, information security, artificial intelligence, and materials engineering, which complement ROCMA’s emphasis on military technology and leadership development. He expressed hope that the next phase would jointly establish a new model for cultivating advanced talent in national defense technology.

Superintendent Tan noted that ROCMA graduates will serve in the armed forces, playing a crucial role in national defense and military readiness. In recent years, ROCMA has actively engaged in domestic and international exchanges and collaborations with top institutions to cultivate cadets with global perspectives and open-mindedness. He acknowledged NCKU as a leading institution in scientific research and hoped that the university would continue to provide support in research, technology, and knowledge, jointly nurturing the next generation of outstanding military officers equipped with innovative management and leadership approaches, ultimately enhancing overall military capability.

The collaboration encompasses equipment and resource sharing, joint research projects, faculty and researcher exchanges, inter-university course enrollment, encouraging NCKU students interested in military studies and physically qualified to apply for ROTC programs, and encouraging ROCMA graduates to apply for NCKU graduate programs.

Following the signing ceremony, Superintendent Tan and his delegation, accompanied by NCKU personnel, visited the Wang-Chu Systems Engineering Research Center (王助系統工程研究中心) to deepen scientific research exchanges. They also toured the Main Library to explore its collections and humanistic innovation spaces. The Wang-Chu Center, jointly established by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of National Defense, promotes industry–academia collaboration, integrates research and practical applications, and serves as a think tank for advanced technology planning. The delegation received a briefing and engaged in a short discussion before visiting library spaces such as the first-floor Learning Commons and third-floor prayer and meditation area, expressing admiration for the extensive collections and student-centered design.

This renewed collaboration symbolizes not only the mutual trust and achievements between NCKU and ROCMA but also demonstrates their shared commitment to “advancing technology R&D and cultivating high-level talent.” Moving forward, both institutions will continue leveraging their respective strengths to contribute to national security and sustainable societal development, reinforcing their commitment to university social responsibility.