Dr. Ben Jai, Founder and Chairman of Hope Bay Technologies, has generously donated USD 270,000 (approximately TWD 8.5 million) to National Chung Cheng University (CCU) to establish the "National Chung Cheng University Bauhinia Scholar Award." This award aims to recognize and reward CCU faculty members who excel in advancing academic research, promoting industry-academia collaboration, and engaging in social service. The donation ceremony for the Bauhinia Scholar Award took place on August 28th, with CCU President Dr. Shaw-Jenq Tsai representing the university in signing the donation agreement with Dr. Jai. This initiative marks a new chapter in the collaboration between higher education and the corporate sector in Taiwan, with the hope that this award will enhance CCU’s academic achievements and reputation.
Dr. Ben Jai is a highly influential entrepreneur who has worked at renowned companies such as Bell Labs, Google, and Delta Electronics. He has also served as a municipal advisor for the Taipei City Government. Dr. Jai has long been dedicated to improving Taiwan’s industrial culture and environment, aspiring to fully unleash the potential of Taiwan’s talent. In June of this year, Dr. Jai was invited by CCU to deliver a speech at their commencement ceremony. During his speech, Dr. Jai encouraged the graduates to "embrace necessary challenges, overcome all difficulties, experience failures with composure, and learn deeply from them to achieve a remarkable life." His words deeply resonated with the graduates and their families in attendance.
Since Professor Shaw-Jenq Tsai took office as CCU President in February of this year, he has embraced the philosophy of "Thirty Years of Excellence, Sustainable Innovation, Deep Local Roots, and Global Connections" to actively promote university affairs. His top priority has been lifting the spirit among faculty and students to restore the university's past glory and lay a solid foundation for its future. For junior faculty members, President Tsai not only provides internal research funding but also ensures flexible salaries. Assistant or associate professors within the first three years of their tenure who apply for research grants from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) will receive a salary bonus; if their proposals are funded by the NSTC, the flexible salary bonus will be doubled. For those of middle generations President Tsai follows the principle of "Solidify the Middle, Excel at the Top," to encourage them to innovate and achieve even greater successes. Chairman Jai, who has always been committed to nurturing top domestic talents, strongly supports President Tsai's vision for the university and immediately expressed his willingness to donate funds to help CCU enhance its academic research capabilities.
The "National Chung Cheng University Bauhinia Scholar Award" primarily targets full-time faculty or researchers under the age of 55 who have demonstrated outstanding and cumulative academic achievements. Each recipient will be awarded TWD 500,000 in recognition of their academic accomplishments, with the expectation that they will continue to shine on the international stage, showcasing Taiwan's academic soft power. The establishment of the Bauhinia Scholar Award not only reflects Dr. Jai’s deep concern for the development of higher education and academic research in Taiwan but also highlights CCU’s active role in promoting academic excellence and supporting exceptional talents within the university. Furthermore, it represents a model of deep collaboration between the corporate and academic sectors, setting a precedent for nurturing outstanding research talent in Taiwan.