On July 11, Taiwan Tech and the University of Tokyo jointly held the “Joint Workshop on Sustainable Industry and Society”, focusing on emerging topics including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), digital transformation, smart manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and sustainable development. Scholars, graduate students, and summer interns from Taiwan, Japan, and several other countries gathered to exchange ideas and explore how technological innovation can respond to the challenges of industrial upgrading and sustainable social development.

The workshop was jointly organized by the Taiwan Tech Center for IoT Innovation and the University of Tokyo Smart System Design Laboratory. Originally planned as an in-person event, the workshop was moved entirely online due to the impact of a typhoon. The organizing teams adjusted the format to ensure that academic exchange could continue without interruption. A total of ten faculty members and students from the University of Tokyo traveled to Taiwan to participate in the event. Although some overseas scholars were unable to arrive in Taiwan as scheduled due to weather conditions, keynote presentations, research presentations, and discussion sessions proceeded smoothly through digital platforms, demonstrating the resilience and flexibility of international collaboration.

Graduate students present their research findings at the Joint Workshop on Sustainable Industry and Society and exchange ideas with faculty members and students from different countries.

The workshop covered a broad range of topics, including sustainable society, smart manufacturing, digital transformation, digital twins, and supply chain resilience. Drawing on perspectives from engineering, information technology, management, and the social sciences, participants explored the applications and challenges of AI in corporate decision-making, transportation and energy system assessment, and the governance of large-scale infrastructure. Through cross-disciplinary dialogue, participants exchanged research findings and practical experiences from different professional perspectives, generating new ideas and opportunities for collaboration.

Professor Shuo-Yan Chou, Director of the Taiwan Tech Center for IoT Innovation and Distinguished Professor, noted that “system resilience” was one of the key themes explored at the workshop. He pointed out that the organizing team’s rapid digital transformation of the event was itself a concrete demonstration of resilience in practice. He emphasized that AI, IoT, and digital technologies not only drive industrial upgrading but also help organizations maintain stable operations in the face of climate change and unexpected disruptions, thereby strengthening their overall capacity for sustainable development.

Professor Kazuo Hiekata of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo stated that sustainable development requires the joint advancement of interdisciplinary knowledge and international collaboration. The workshop brought together research teams from diverse fields, including engineering, information technology, management, and the social sciences. Even after the event was moved online, faculty members and students from both universities were able to build deeper collaborative connections through intensive exchanges and jointly explore future research directions.

In addition to keynote presentations and academic discussions, participating graduate students shared their latest research findings through oral presentations and digital poster sessions, demonstrating the strong potential for interdisciplinary integration across technology, management, and the social sciences. The event also attracted summer interns from Vietnam, Indonesia, Germany, Austria, South Korea, and the United States. Young researchers from diverse cultural backgrounds gained a deeper understanding of research methodologies and academic cultures in different countries through interaction and exchange. They also shared perspectives and offered suggestions on one another’s research, gaining valuable experience in cross-cultural communication and international collaboration.

Graduate students present their research findings at the Joint Workshop on Sustainable Industry and Society and exchange ideas with faculty members and students from different countries.

Taiwan Tech has long promoted international collaboration and interdisciplinary research, establishing partnerships with leading universities around the world through diverse forms of cooperation, including joint workshops, research exchanges, and student internships. The workshop not only strengthened academic exchange and collaboration between Taiwan Tech and the University of Tokyo on issues related to sustainable industry and society, but also further demonstrated the important value of digital technologies in international academic collaboration. Moving forward, the two universities will continue to deepen their partnership and establish closer, more regular platforms for exchange. By integrating technological innovation with principles of sustainability, they aim to nurture research talent with a global perspective and generate greater momentum for industrial transformation and the development of a sustainable society.