IIT Gandhinagar has forged a significant partnership with a Taiwanese university and a technology company. This move aims to strengthen semiconductor cooperation between India and Taiwan. The collaboration involves National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) and Ampak Technology Inc.
Strengthening Ties Through Campus Visit
Professor Li-Chun Wang from NYCU and Ming-Jer Chen, CEO of Ampak Technology, visited the IIT Gandhinagar campus on January 13 and 14. Their visit focused on enhancing this strategic partnership. The institute issued a formal statement about the collaboration on Friday.
Exploring Collaborative Opportunities
During their campus visit, Professor Wang and CEO Chen held detailed discussions with students and faculty members. They explored multiple avenues for collaboration in semiconductor research. Potential initiatives include academic exchange programs and joint research projects.
Ampak Technology brings substantial experience to this partnership. The company has over two decades of expertise in wireless module research, design, production, and technology integration services.
Strategic Importance of Semiconductor Collaboration
Professor Li-Chun Wang emphasized the global significance of semiconductor cooperation. He serves as Distinguished Chair Professor and Dean of the College of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NYCU.
"Geographically and geopolitically, semiconductors have become extremely important," Professor Wang stated. "The industry must seriously consider supply-chain resilience. Long-term cooperation is essential, especially given geopolitical risks."
Complementary Strengths
Professor Wang highlighted how Taiwan and India can complement each other's capabilities. Taiwan excels in manufacturing, system integration, and reliability testing. India demonstrates strong capabilities in chip design and computational sciences.
"Semiconductor collaboration between India and Taiwan can be highly comprehensive," Professor Wang explained. "It should span AI, systems design, and manufacturing together through a process of co-evolution and deep collaboration. Capital investment alone is not enough; investment in people and the academic ecosystem forms the real foundation of the semiconductor mission."
Benefits for Students and Research
Professor Rajat Moona, Director of IIT Gandhinagar, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. He noted Gujarat's emergence as a growing hub for semiconductor research and manufacturing.
"Such collaborations will provide our students with hands-on exposure, advanced training, and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge chip design, systems integration, and AI-driven applications," Professor Moona said. "This prepares them for the national and global semiconductor ecosystem."
Industry-Academia Partnership Advantages
The industry-academia partnership with Ampak Technology promises practical benefits. It will likely provide hands-on exposure to students. The collaboration aims to foster cross-disciplinary skills and innovations. These efforts should strengthen long-term ties between India and Taiwan.
Ming-Jer Chen, CEO of Ampak Technology, shared specific plans for the collaboration. "Some students have started their studies in Taiwan, while parts of our team can also work and study here at the IIT Gandhinagar campus," Chen explained. "This arrangement will support ongoing research in AI and IoT technologies, allowing our team to collaborate closely while leveraging campus resources and infrastructure."
Future Academic Programs
Professor Bhaskar Datta, Dean of Academics at IIT Gandhinagar, expressed anticipation for future developments. "We eagerly look forward to the inception of joint academic programs with NYCU Taiwan," Professor Datta said. "These programs will be of immense benefit to our undergraduates and postgraduates."
The collaboration represents a significant step in India's semiconductor ambitions. It combines academic excellence with industry expertise. This partnership addresses both educational and technological needs in the semiconductor sector.
