Times Higher Education (THE) released its “2026 Sustainability Impact Ratings” on June 24, with Taiwan Tech ranked in the 201–300 band worldwide. Notably, Taiwan Tech was ranked 28th globally for SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, marking the University's first time reaching the global top 30 in this category. The achievement reflects Taiwan Tech's long-term commitment to advancing sustainability through research, teaching, and social practice.
Taiwan Tech ranks in the 201–300 band worldwide in the 2026 THE Sustainability Impact Rankings and places 28th globally for SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
The Center for Sustainability Development and Institutional Research attributed this year's strong performance to Taiwan Tech's high-quality applied research and extensive industry collaboration network. The University's industry-sponsored research funding and technology licensing revenue have continued to grow, demonstrating a close integration of academic research with industrial practice that has become a key driver of its improved performance in the rankings.
Beyond research, Taiwan Tech actively advances sustainability through its University Social Responsibility (USR) initiatives. Faculty members lead interdisciplinary student teams to work with rural and local communities in Taiwan and abroad, applying their expertise to address real-world challenges. In recent years, Taiwan Tech faculty and students have carried out projects in rural Taiwan as well as in Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, and Japan, contributing to improvements in water resource management, housing safety through home renovation, trail construction, and science and language education for elementary and secondary schools. These efforts demonstrate the University's commitment to sustainable development through meaningful community engagement.
Taiwan Tech also leverages its international campus environment to strengthen sustainability initiatives by encouraging international students to participate in USR projects. Through collaboration among students from diverse cultural backgrounds, teams apply technology and professional expertise to support underserved communities while fostering mutual learning and cross-cultural exchange - an approach that has become one of the University's distinctive strengths in promoting sustainability.
This year, the Center for Sustainability Development and Institutional Research sent a delegation to THE Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia, where it showcased 26 sustainability-related research projects developed at Taiwan Tech. The delegation shared the University's sustainability achievements with representatives from universities around the world. Featured projects included Professor Tsai-Chi Kuo's Smart Sustainable Manufacturing and Carbon Management System from the Department of Industrial Management, and Professor Fu-Min Wang's integrated waste battery recycling and carbon capture power generation system from the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology. These projects demonstrate how Taiwan Tech translates research into practical solutions that meet industry needs while advancing global sustainability goals, and they also foster collaboration with international partners.
Che-Chia Hu, Section Chief of the Sustainable Development and Social Practice Promotion Division under the Center for Sustainability Development and Institutional Research, represented Taiwan Tech at the awards ceremony. From left: Sylvia Kee, THE Regional Director for Korea and Taiwan; Mei Mei Lim, President of THE Asia-Pacific; and Che-Chia Hu.
The Center for Sustainability Development and Institutional Research presented 26 sustainability-related research projects at THE Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026, showcasing Taiwan Tech 's sustainability achievements to university representatives from around the world.
Che-Chia Hu emphasized, “Taiwan Tech is creating unlimited impact with limited resources. Rather than pursuing scale, we strive to ensure that every research project and every USR initiative addresses real-world challenges and delivers meaningful solutions”. Looking ahead, he noted that Taiwan Tech will continue to strengthen its sustainability research and expand international collaboration, further enhancing the University's global visibility through steady, pragmatic, and forward-looking actions.