The Alumni Association from Department of Mechanical Engineering at Taiwan Tech, together with President Jia-Yush Yen, Vice President Charles C.J. Wang, Secretary-General Yu-Lin Kuo, Dean of the College of Engineering Ming-Jyh Chern, and Associate Dean of the Industry-Academia Innovation College Yih-Lin Cheng, recently visited the Presidential Office to meet with President Ching-te Lai. During the meeting, they presented a series of policy recommendations on the development of Taiwan’s machinery industry and exchanged views on global economic and trade conditions as well as strategies for industrial upgrading. The discussion focused on industry development, aiming to provide the government with practical insights from academia and industry to strengthen Taiwan’s overall industrial competitiveness.

Representatives from Taiwan Tech’s Deaprtment of Mechanical Engineering Alumni Association, along with President Jia-Yush Yen, Vice President Charles C.J. Wang, and Secretary-General Yu-Lin Kuo, met with President Lai Ching-te to offer policy recommendations for Taiwan’s machinery industry.

The meeting centered on five key themes: addressing international tariffs and trade barriers; accelerating the dual-axis transformation; promoting industrial upgrading and localization policies; ensuring exchange rate flexibility; and recognizing talent as a key factor in balanced industrial development. Participants offered concrete suggestions spanning international trade dynamics, industrial restructuring, and talent cultivation. They noted that amid global supply chain restructuring and geopolitical shifts, Taiwan’s machinery industry faces both new challenges and opportunities. Strategic policy guidance and resource integration are essential to help enterprises enhance technological capabilities and global market positioning, thereby strengthening economic resilience.

President Ching-te Lai shared his observations from attending the inauguration of the National Smart Robotics Research Center, emphasizing Taiwan’s ambition to become a key global player in the AI era. He highlighted that the machinery industry is a cornerstone of both national defense autonomy and economic development. It has played a crucial role in transforming Taiwan from a contract manufacturing base into a hub for high value-added production, while also serving as a vital link between manufacturing and the technology sector.

Looking ahead, the machinery industry is expected to develop along four major directions: deepening the integration of artificial intelligence with smart machinery; advancing technologies in response to semiconductor and high-tech industry demands; promoting the development of robotics and unmanned systems; and supporting global net-zero carbon trends through green machinery. These directions indicate a shift toward smart manufacturing and high-tech applications, with cross-disciplinary integration opening new avenues for growth.

President Ching-te Lai took a group photo with representatives from academia, industry, and research in Taiwan Tech’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.

President Jia-Yush Yen expressed appreciation for the president and the administrative team’s efforts in tariff negotiations with the United States, which have helped create a more competitive international trade environment for Taiwan’s machinery industry. Industry representatives also shared practical insights and needs based on their experience. Kenny Hsiao, CEO of T.GLOBAL Technology Co., LTD., discussed the company’s investment in advanced chip thermal management processes in France, reflecting Taiwan enterprises’ active participation in global competition. Wei-Chih Liao, General Manager of Taiwan Auto Design Co., highlighted the applications and development needs of data integration and smart manufacturing in defense, semiconductor, and diverse industries. Sheng-Chieh Peng, Deputy General Manager of SolidWizard Technology, shared perspectives from assisting manufacturers with R&D design and validation analysis, outlining the challenges and demands faced during industrial upgrading.

Beyond facilitating dialogue between the government and academia-industry sectors, the visit demonstrated a shared commitment to advancing industrial transformation. Through policy recommendations and the exchange of practical experience, the meeting helped consolidate development directions and lay a stronger foundation for Taiwan’s machinery industry as it moves toward higher value creation and global expansion. Taiwan Tech will continue to integrate its teaching and research strengths, deepen collaboration with industry, and promote technological innovation and talent cultivation for sustainable growth.

Taiwan Tech representatives posed for a group photo with President Ching-te Lai. From left to right: Yih-lin Cheng, Associate Dean of the the Industry-Academia Innovation College; Yu-Lin Kuo, Secretary-General; Jia-Yush Yen, President of Taiwan Tech; President Ching-te Lai; Charles C.J. Wang, Vice President; and Ming-Jyh Chern, Dean of the College of Engineering.