SDG17
Inria Visits NCKU to Deepen Taiwan–France Collaboration, Building a Strategic Partnership for Digital Science and Innovation
Written by NCKU Office of Internation Affairs & Image credit to NCKU News Center.
To further strengthen higher education and research collaboration between Taiwan and France, Dr. Cécile Vigouroux, Director of International Relations at the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (Institut national de recherche en informatique et en automatique, Inria), led a delegation to National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) on the morning of July 3. The French delegation included Dr. Pauline Ravinet, Attachée for Science and University Cooperation at the Bureau Français de Taipei, and Mr. Léo Gaillard, Cybersecurity Expert at Expertise France (embedded in the National Institute of Cyber Security, NICS). Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, semiconductors, robotics, high-performance computing, and interdisciplinary research, with the shared goal of establishing a long-term, sustainable research partnership of global impact and advancing Taiwan–France scientific collaboration to a new level.
The delegation was welcomed by Distinguished Prof. Shyy-Woei Chang, Executive Vice President of NCKU, together with Prof. Wen-Tai Chiu, Vice President for International Affairs; Prof. Chuan-Pu Liu, Vice President for Research & Development; Prof. S. Felix Wu, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Chair Prof. Yu-Lung Lo, Associate Dean of the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing; Distinguished Prof. Liang-Ming Whang, Director General of the Innovation Headquarters; Prof. Jenn-Jier James Lien, Associate Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Prof. Chin-Lung Yang, Associate Vice President for International Affairs; Ms. Cindy Su, CEO for Global Engagement, Office of International Affairs; Ms. Ya-Tsui Ellen Hsueh, CEO for Strategic Operations, Office of International Affairs; and Mr. Kevin Chiu, Deputy Director of the International Relations Division, Office of International Affairs.
In his welcoming remarks, Executive Vice President Chang recalled NCKU's visit earlier this year to Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), where the delegation gained first-hand insight into Grenoble's vibrant research and innovation ecosystem. He noted that Inria plays a vital role in digital science, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary research, laying a strong foundation for future collaboration between the two institutions.
Executive Vice President Chang emphasized that NCKU has been actively promoting an international collaboration model centered on Research Clusters, with the aim of establishing a sustainable research network by partnering with UGA, Inria, and other leading French research institutions while jointly cultivating future talent. Looking ahead, he noted that research outcomes generated through Taiwan–France collaboration could be effectively translated into real-world applications through NCKU's close partnerships with industry.
Visiting Taiwan for the first time, Dr. Vigouroux remarked that France and Taiwan have continued to strengthen scientific cooperation in recent years, with digital technologies emerging as a strategic area of shared interest. She introduced Inria as France's national research institute dedicated to digital science and technology, with internationally recognized expertise spanning artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, high-performance computing, software engineering, quantum computing, and digital health. She also noted that Inria places great emphasis on technology transfer and developing real-world solutions that create societal impact, closely aligning with NCKU’s focus on industry-academia research collaboration to address societal needs. Dr. Vigouroux further explained Inria's distinctive Project Team research model, which encourages interdisciplinary teams to adapt rapidly to emerging scientific developments while promoting technology transfer, software development, and startup creation in close collaboration with France's leading research universities. She expressed that Taiwan has become one of Inria's key international partners, and looked forward to expanding collaboration with NCKU through joint research, co-supervision of students, researcher exchanges, and other long-term partnership mechanisms.
Prof. Wen-Tai Chiu, Vice President for International Affairs, introduced NCKU's institutional structure and highlighted the University's strengths across engineering, medicine, information technology, semiconductors, and sustainability. He noted that NCKU has long played a leading role in strategic national initiatives, including smart disaster prevention, cybersecurity, space technologies, smart healthcare, and defense technologies. According to Prof. Chiu, one of NCKU's defining strengths lies in integrating interdisciplinary research with industrial needs to address societal challenges. Following his presentation, Ms. Cindy Su, CEO for Global Engagement of the Office of International Affairs, outlined NCKU's strategic vision for collaboration with Inria. She proposed expanding cooperation through joint supervision of master's and doctoral students, joint faculty appointments, collaborative publications, and joint research projects, with priority areas including sustainable energy, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and smart healthcare. These initiatives aim to establish a globally influential and sustainable research ecosystem. Prof. Chuan-Pu Liu, Vice President for Research & Development, introduced NCKU's Research Cluster strategy, emphasizing interdisciplinary integration, government support, and international partnerships as key elements in building a long-term collaborative research ecosystem, with the aim of pursuing large-scale international research projects and cultivating the next generation of scientific talent. Prof. S. Felix Wu, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, presented NCKU's latest achievements in cybersecurity, including post-quantum cryptography, AI system security, high-performance computing platforms, smart campus technologies, and digital resilience. He looks forward to expanding and deepening collaboration with Inria moving forward. Chair Prof. Yu-Lung Lo, Associate Dean of the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing, introduced NCKU's approach to cultivating semiconductor talents. He highlighted the Academy's close partnerships with Taiwan's semiconductor industry and its focus on integrated circuit design, advanced manufacturing processes, packaging and testing, silicon photonics, and smart manufacturing, while expressing hope for future collaboration with French partners in nurturing internationally competitive semiconductor professionals. In addition, Distinguished Prof. Liang-Ming Whang, Director General of the Innovation Headquarters, shared NCKU's achievements in technology transfer, startup incubation, and industry–academia collaboration, demonstrating the University's comprehensive innovation ecosystem for translating research into industrial applications. Prof. Jenn-Jier James Lien, Associate Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, introduced NCKU's latest research in AI robotics and intelligent healthcare, including a dual-arm robotic platform for spinal surgery, intelligent navigation systems, and AI-enabled medical applications, showcasing NCKU’s research capabilities in smart healthcare and Physical AI.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views and reached preliminary consensus on several future initiatives. These include encouraging NCKU researchers to participate in Inria's Associate Team program, promoting bilateral research exchanges and jointly organizing thematic workshops. The visit further strengthened the foundation for collaboration between NCKU and Inria and is expected to foster a strategic research partnership that combines academic excellence, industrial engagement, and global impact.
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2026-07-08
To further strengthen higher education and research collaboration between Taiwan and France, Dr. Cécile Vigouroux, Director of International Relations at the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (Institut national de recherche en informatique et en automatique, Inria), led a delegation to National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) on the morning of July 3. The French delegation included Dr. Pauline Ravinet, Attachée for Science and University Cooperation at the Bureau Français de Taipei, and Mr. Léo Gaillard, Cybersecurity Expert at Expertise France (embedded in the National Institute of Cyber Security, NICS). Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, semiconductors, robotics, high-performance computing, and interdisciplinary research, with the shared goal of establishing a long-term, sustainable research partnership of global impact and advancing Taiwan–France scientific collaboration to a new level.
The delegation was welcomed by Distinguished Prof. Shyy-Woei Chang, Executive Vice President of NCKU, together with Prof. Wen-Tai Chiu, Vice President for International Affairs; Prof. Chuan-Pu Liu, Vice President for Research & Development; Prof. S. Felix Wu, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Chair Prof. Yu-Lung Lo, Associate Dean of the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing; Distinguished Prof. Liang-Ming Whang, Director General of the Innovation Headquarters; Prof. Jenn-Jier James Lien, Associate Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Prof. Chin-Lung Yang, Associate Vice President for International Affairs; Ms. Cindy Su, CEO for Global Engagement, Office of International Affairs; Ms. Ya-Tsui Ellen Hsueh, CEO for Strategic Operations, Office of International Affairs; and Mr. Kevin Chiu, Deputy Director of the International Relations Division, Office of International Affairs.
In his welcoming remarks, Executive Vice President Chang recalled NCKU's visit earlier this year to Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), where the delegation gained first-hand insight into Grenoble's vibrant research and innovation ecosystem. He noted that Inria plays a vital role in digital science, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary research, laying a strong foundation for future collaboration between the two institutions.
Executive Vice President Chang emphasized that NCKU has been actively promoting an international collaboration model centered on Research Clusters, with the aim of establishing a sustainable research network by partnering with UGA, Inria, and other leading French research institutions while jointly cultivating future talent. Looking ahead, he noted that research outcomes generated through Taiwan–France collaboration could be effectively translated into real-world applications through NCKU's close partnerships with industry.
Visiting Taiwan for the first time, Dr. Vigouroux remarked that France and Taiwan have continued to strengthen scientific cooperation in recent years, with digital technologies emerging as a strategic area of shared interest. She introduced Inria as France's national research institute dedicated to digital science and technology, with internationally recognized expertise spanning artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, high-performance computing, software engineering, quantum computing, and digital health. She also noted that Inria places great emphasis on technology transfer and developing real-world solutions that create societal impact, closely aligning with NCKU’s focus on industry-academia research collaboration to address societal needs. Dr. Vigouroux further explained Inria's distinctive Project Team research model, which encourages interdisciplinary teams to adapt rapidly to emerging scientific developments while promoting technology transfer, software development, and startup creation in close collaboration with France's leading research universities. She expressed that Taiwan has become one of Inria's key international partners, and looked forward to expanding collaboration with NCKU through joint research, co-supervision of students, researcher exchanges, and other long-term partnership mechanisms.
Prof. Wen-Tai Chiu, Vice President for International Affairs, introduced NCKU's institutional structure and highlighted the University's strengths across engineering, medicine, information technology, semiconductors, and sustainability. He noted that NCKU has long played a leading role in strategic national initiatives, including smart disaster prevention, cybersecurity, space technologies, smart healthcare, and defense technologies. According to Prof. Chiu, one of NCKU's defining strengths lies in integrating interdisciplinary research with industrial needs to address societal challenges. Following his presentation, Ms. Cindy Su, CEO for Global Engagement of the Office of International Affairs, outlined NCKU's strategic vision for collaboration with Inria. She proposed expanding cooperation through joint supervision of master's and doctoral students, joint faculty appointments, collaborative publications, and joint research projects, with priority areas including sustainable energy, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and smart healthcare. These initiatives aim to establish a globally influential and sustainable research ecosystem. Prof. Chuan-Pu Liu, Vice President for Research & Development, introduced NCKU's Research Cluster strategy, emphasizing interdisciplinary integration, government support, and international partnerships as key elements in building a long-term collaborative research ecosystem, with the aim of pursuing large-scale international research projects and cultivating the next generation of scientific talent. Prof. S. Felix Wu, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, presented NCKU's latest achievements in cybersecurity, including post-quantum cryptography, AI system security, high-performance computing platforms, smart campus technologies, and digital resilience. He looks forward to expanding and deepening collaboration with Inria moving forward. Chair Prof. Yu-Lung Lo, Associate Dean of the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing, introduced NCKU's approach to cultivating semiconductor talents. He highlighted the Academy's close partnerships with Taiwan's semiconductor industry and its focus on integrated circuit design, advanced manufacturing processes, packaging and testing, silicon photonics, and smart manufacturing, while expressing hope for future collaboration with French partners in nurturing internationally competitive semiconductor professionals. In addition, Distinguished Prof. Liang-Ming Whang, Director General of the Innovation Headquarters, shared NCKU's achievements in technology transfer, startup incubation, and industry–academia collaboration, demonstrating the University's comprehensive innovation ecosystem for translating research into industrial applications. Prof. Jenn-Jier James Lien, Associate Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, introduced NCKU's latest research in AI robotics and intelligent healthcare, including a dual-arm robotic platform for spinal surgery, intelligent navigation systems, and AI-enabled medical applications, showcasing NCKU’s research capabilities in smart healthcare and Physical AI.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views and reached preliminary consensus on several future initiatives. These include encouraging NCKU researchers to participate in Inria's Associate Team program, promoting bilateral research exchanges and jointly organizing thematic workshops. The visit further strengthened the foundation for collaboration between NCKU and Inria and is expected to foster a strategic research partnership that combines academic excellence, industrial engagement, and global impact.
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2026-07-08
NCKU and the delegation from the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (Inria) engaged in in-depth discussions. Pictured are representatives from NCKU and the French delegation, including Dr. Cécile Vigouroux (front row, third from left), Director of International Relations at Inria; Dr. Pauline Ravinet (front row, second from left), Attachée for Science and University Cooperation at the Bureau Français de Taipei; and Mr. Léo Gaillard (front row, first from left), Cybersecurity Expert at Expertise France, embedded in Taiwan's National Institute of Cyber Security (NICS).
NCKU Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang (right) presented a gift to Dr. Cécile Vigouroux (left), Director of International Relations at the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (Inria), symbolizing the strong partnership and friendship between NCKU and Inria.
NCKU and the Inria delegation held fruitful discussions on emerging technology areas, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors, high-performance computing, and interdisciplinary research.
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