WANG, Wei-Chung & YU, Min-Hsang
101, Section 2, Kung-Fu Road, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan 30043,Republic of China, Tze-Chiang Foundation of Science and Technology, mhyu@tcfst.org.tw, http://www.tcfst.org.tw
Abstract: In this paper, a university-industry collaboration model is introduced by using the functioning of Tze-Chiang Foundation of Science and Technology (TCFST), which was initially established by the alumni of the National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). The uniqueness of TCFST in Taiwan, Republic of China has provided a successful private and full self-sufficient organization in research and development, and professional training. The performance of TCFST can be realized through the introduction of its background, mission, organization and operations. The relationship as well as the interaction between the TCFST and NTHU are also discussed. With the success of being a semiconductor technology training center, a typical professional training program is also introduced to express the successful university-industry collaboration model for instance. The achievement of TCFST is performed by the comparison with other organizations and the awards from different activities. At the end, how TCFST takes part into the community services and future planning are also addressed.
Keywords: university-industry, collaboration, semiconductor, training, research
Tze-Chiang Foundation of Science and Technology (TCFST), a non-profit organization, was founded in1973 by alumni of National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). The primary goal of TCFST is to build up connections among academic, research, industrial and governmental institutes in order to promote economic growth, upgrade the industry, popularize human and social science as well as speed up modernization of industrial and business management. TCFST is thus devoted to programs by utilizing academic expertise and facilities as well as obtaining the support of the government.
Because of the difference of cultures, the university-industry collaboration models have been progressed in different countries in many ways. The uniqueness of TCFST in Taiwan, Republic of China has provided a successful private and full self-sufficient organization in research and development, and professional training. The performance of TCFST can be realized through the introduction of its background, mission, organization and operations.
The mission of TCSFT is on the hi-tech research and development and professional training. TCFST was set up as a semiconductor-based laboratory. With the success in semiconductor technology, TCFST was expanded into a science and technology research and training center. In 1988, it owned five laboratories, namely Semiconductor Laboratory, Opto-electronics Laboratory, Information Technology Laboratory, Special Chemicals Laboratory, and Industrial Materials Laboratory, In light of the seriousness of environment problems, the Environmental Protection Laboratory was built up in 1990. At present, six independent laboratories are run jointly with NTHU. There are two major tasks of the laboratories. First, it arranges professional training programs for hi-tech. engineers in the industry. Second, it explores into opportunities in technical research and development.
To help increase the technology level of the industry, TCFST has developed the capability to develop and manufacture hi-tech products. The main research and development areas focus on the fields of Semi-conductor, Opto-electronics, Industrial Materials, Information Technology, Environment Protection and Special Chemistry. The products developed are such as power MOS, LCD display and composite materials. In addition, systems such as automatic mail box and automatic tailoring machines were built up. Since 1989, over sixty research projects for upgrading traditional industries and over tens of survey projects have been accomplished. Many patents have been acquired. TCFST sees the needs of the industry, integrates academic resources and seeks government support to help upgrade the industry.
In the area of professional training, TCFST has earned the reputation by providing high-quality training programs. In 1986, TCFST was appointed by the administration of Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park to set up a Semiconductor Engineering Training Center. Since then, more then forty thousand engineers have been trained at the center. Special systematic training programs were arranged upon request by large corporations, such as United Microelectronics Corp.(UMC), TI-ACER Corp., and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.(TSMC).
Since 1989, TCFST has been offering other professional training courses besides semiconductors, including opto-electronics, communication, automation, computer systems, electronic systems, composite materials and environmental protection issues. Other training courses include the languages, business management, and human and social science. For years, these courses, mostly appointed by governmental institutions such as Industrial Development Bureau and Employment & Vocational Training Administration, have been recognized as excellent training courses by the industry.
Ever since the founding of TCFST by alumni of National Tsing Hua University, the relationship between TCFST and NTHU has been close. In order to accomplish the expected results aspired by these alumni, these two organizations have increased the interaction in between. The examples of the collaboration between TCFTS and NTHU have been played as follows.
The establishment of Innovation Incubator of NTHU and TCFST is another achievement of their collaboration. The Innovation Incubator was founded in September 1998 to support the growth of small and medium hi-tech business in Taiwan and to assist them in the development of innovative products/technology and to further upgrade the industry by incorporating academic expertise, hi-tech professionalism and facilities of NTHU and TCFST. The uniqueness of the innovation incubator is the integration of the international research level of NTHU and the excellent technology service and training programs of TCFST.
TCFST has played many roles successfully, not only in the interaction with NTHU, but also in the building up connections among industries, academic, research and governmental institutes:
The Foundation is willing to share its achievement with and contribute to the public. A number of activities, such as orchestra performance, music performance and speech of popular technologies, have been carried out for the community.
In view of the coming of the high technology area, the Foundation has opened up computer courses for the children and mothers, as well as other courses.
The program has received support from the Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs since 1990 and from the Employment and Vocational Training Administration of the Council of Labor Affair (Executive Yuan) since 1992.
Most of the instructional staff and advisory board members of the training program are from the National Tsing Hua University. Additionally, based on recommendations from advisory board member, instructors from industry and academic institutions abroad are recruited into program. Instructors are selected for their specific applied and research expertise. All are at the forefront of development research in the industry.
The semiconductor technology training program focuses on device physics and modeling, circuit design and analysis, IC process technology and simulation, testing and reliability, and equipment and facility maintenance for wafer fabrication.
This industry-oriented program received 50% of its financial support from the government, most notably the Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Students benefit from a relatively low course fee as well as the expertise of lecturers from both local and overseas companies and universities. Cooperative partners include local and international institutes such as the National Tsing Hua University, Electronic Research & Service Organization (ERSO) of the Industrial Technology Research Institute in Taiwan, the University of California at Berkeley, and Evans Asia in Hong Kong.
The IC professors at the National Tsing Hua University regularly invite a wide variety of guest speakers and lecturers from among the ranks of the senior engineers in local companies to participate in the delivery of the course. In this way, the program is directly relevant and current with developments in the industry.
The rapid development of the IC industry in Chinese Taipei has created a serious shortage of experienced labor at the engineering level. This program responds directly to this shortage by providing training for engineers who want to move into the IC field as well as continuing education upgrade opportunities for professionals who are currently working in the filed. As a result, the technological capabilities of local IC companies are constantly, being improved through the training provided by the TCFST.
The unique relationship between the TCFST and its partners, both in Taiwan and in other countries, is one of the major driving forces sustaining TCFST’s success in the filed of semiconductor technology. In addition to the Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Employment and Vocational Training Administration of the Council of Labor Affairs (Executive Yuan) and Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park Administration are major sources of financial support for TCFST.
The National Tsing Hua University provides lecturers and equipment support, ERSO provides lecturer support, and the University of California at Berkeley provides lecturers for short, intensive workshops.
The specialized training offered by TCFST is enthusiastically endorsed by the companies in Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park. For example, Dr. Nan-Shyong Tsai, Vice President of MOSEL VITELIC Inc., has said
This program really meets the wide variety of needs, including design, processing and maintenance, of local companies
And Ms. Y. O. You, Division Manager of Product Development for Hualon Microelectronic Company, has noted that,
This program provides a convenient and efficient means of self-promotion for local engineers.
Dr. Neng-Shyan Tsai, Director of the R&D Division at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, describes TCFST’s training program as solving ”the urgent need for manpower in Taiwan’s IC industry”.
In an evaluation made by National Cheng Chi University, through contract from the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park, TCFST’s Semiconductor Training Program was cited,
as highly successful in performance. The strong and interconnected relationship between the IC industry and the program can be applied as a model system for other high-tech industries. The great demand for manpower in the IC industry has made the continuous development of the training program necessary and worthwhile.
The following table shows the comparison of TCFST with other organizations based on the number of full-time staffs employed and the budget of each organization owns in 1997.
|
Organization |
Staffs employed |
Budget (Billion Dollars NT$) |
|
NTHU |
800 |
1.9 |
|
ITRI |
5,829 |
14.2 |
|
SIP |
50,792 |
299.2 |
|
TCFST |
58 |
0.13 |
Remarks:
As can be observed from the above table, the revenue per person of the TCFST is rather significant in comparison with the other institutes.
The achievement of TCFST was recognized by the award for the ”Excellence” of Industrial Technology Training Project from the Asia-Pacific Economic Committee (APEC) in 1995 out of two hundred and fifty units from 13 Asia-Pacific countries. In 1996, the TCFST had received the award from the Ministry of Education of Republic of China for the ”Corporate Body Beneficial to Social Education” and also from Chinese Institute of Engineers for the ”Excellence” prize in collaboration of business and higher education. Moreover, TCFST was honored BSI ISO 9001 Certificate in 1998.
Regarding to the future development, the prospects of TCFST are: