Taiwan’s advanced AI technologies expanded into international research and real-world applications. On September 9, National Chung Cheng University (CCU) and Universitas Bunda Mulia (UBM) jointly inaugurated the Joint Research Center on Artificial Intelligence at UBM’s Serpong Campus in Indonesia. The center was created to advance collaboration in artificial intelligence, cross-border federated learning, smart cities, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

This new center strengthened research ties between Taiwan and Indonesia by integrating Taiwan’s R&D expertise with Indonesia’s diverse data and application environments. The partnership aimed to support cross-border validation, joint technology development, and the deployment of research outcomes, underscoring Taiwan’s capabilities in international scientific and technological collaboration.

The collaboration was guided by the research vision and leadership of Pao-Ann Hsiung, Dean of the College of Engineering at CCU. His AI research encompassed smart cities, UAVs, and sustainable technologies, emphasizing interdisciplinary integration and global application.

A primary focus of the partnership was the Cross-Silo Multimodal Federated Learning Platform, which allowed institutions in Taiwan and Indonesia to jointly train AI models without transmitting raw data across borders. By integrating data from various cities, climates, and disaster scenarios, the platform enhanced data diversity, model accuracy, and environmental adaptability.

Initial research targeted sustainable smart cities, environmental monitoring, and disaster management. The joint teams combined digital twin technologies, Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs), and AI-driven multi-UAV collaboration for applications including flood simulation, human detection, geolocation, and disaster assessment.

The initiative also drew interest from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Reporting directly to the President of Indonesia, BRIN serves as the nation's primary agency for research and innovation. Its engagement opened new avenues to link the partnership with Indonesia’s national research ecosystem.

Universitas Bunda Mulia maintained long-standing ties with Alfa Group, having originated from the educational initiatives established by Djoko Susanto, founder of Alfa Group. The university has historically emphasized strong linkages between higher education and industry. Consequently, its partnership with CCU extended beyond academic research to encompass instruction, talent development, technology advancement, and industry collaboration, aiming to translate academic expertise into practical public value.

During the inauguration ceremony, Chen-Kuo Chiang, Associate Professor in CCU’s Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, delivered a keynote address titled “Building World-Class AI Research through International Collaboration,” highlighting strategies to bolster global AI research.

Wei-Min Liu, Associate Professor at CCU, also engaged with UBM representatives in an academic forum on AI research, talent development, and data governance, establishing a foundation for ongoing educational and research partnerships.

Under the leadership of President Dr. Shaw-Jenq Sean Tsai, CCU continued to drive interdisciplinary innovation and global engagement guided by its core vision of innovation, sustainability, local engagement, and global connectivity. The establishment of the Joint Research Center in Indonesia reflected the university’s broader commitment to emerging technologies, talent cultivation, and international partnerships that yield enduring academic and societal impact.