On August 18, 2026, Startup Land at National Chung Cheng University (CCU) welcomed a visiting delegation from the University of Florence, Italy, representing the university’s Schools of Agriculture, Sciences, and Medicine. Centered on innovation and entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary learning, and international exchange, the visit featured academic and innovation-sharing sessions between the two universities, as well as an introduction to CCU students’ innovative projects. Through cross-field dialogue and hands-on experiences, the visit provided an opportunity to deepen international engagement and explore potential avenues for future collaboration.

The visit was hosted by Professor Hsin-Yuan Hung, Director of Startup Land and Vice President of National Chung Cheng University, with the delegation from the University of Florence led by Professor Edgardo Giordani of the School of Agriculture. During the event, both sides introduced their respective development focus and strengths, gaining a deeper understanding of each other’s academic, innovation, and incubation ecosystems. The program also featured a special innovative technology experience session, during which the delegation explored CCU’s digital innovation facilities, including the content creation space, recording studio, and AR/VR applications. Through hands-on interaction and practical demonstrations, the visiting professors gained a closer understanding of CCU’s achievements in digital innovation and interdisciplinary talent development.

Student Innovation Teams Take the International Stage to Share Their Ideas

To ensure that the international exchange went beyond a conventional campus visit, three CCU student teams were invited to present their projects and achievements to the visiting delegation.

The iGEM team, advised by Professor Chun-Ying Yu of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, presented its research on rice pest and disease management. The team shared how it combined biotechnology with innovative research approaches to explore potential solutions to agricultural challenges.

The Intelligent Technology team, advised by Professor Hsiang-Chen Wang of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, focused on the application of AI-powered sorting and grading technologies in agriculture. The team demonstrated how artificial intelligence could be integrated into agricultural operations to enhance production efficiency and quality management. In addition, a team of Vietnamese Ph.D. students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering shared its research on integrating Green/Orange Technology for environmental sustainability. From both cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives, the team explored the connections between technological innovation and sustainable development, highlighting diverse research perspectives and the creative potential of international students at CCU.

From Campus Innovation to the Global Stage: Building a Diverse Platform for International Exchange

The exchange with the delegation from the University of Florence successfully integrated international engagement with innovation and entrepreneurship practice, providing CCU students with a valuable opportunity to present their ideas directly to international scholars and broaden their global perspectives.

Looking ahead, Startup Land at National Chung Cheng University will continue to promote international collaboration and interdisciplinary innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives. By encouraging students to bring their research achievements and innovative ideas to the global stage, Startup Land aims to connect more actively with international universities, research institutions, and innovation ecosystems, while building a more globally oriented campus environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.