To accelerate the launch of the Silicon Photonics Semiconductor Academy and deepen collaboration with Europe's leading optoelectronics research institutions, a National Chung Cheng University (CCU) delegation undertook a ten-day academic mission to Belgium and the Netherlands from April 24 to May 3, 2026. The delegation was led by Professor Hao-Teng Yao, Vice President of CCU and Director of the Advanced Institute of Manufacturing with High-tech Innovations (AIM-HI).

Over the course of the mission, the delegation visited seven world-class academic and research institutions, consolidated its strategic partnership with imec—the global leader in microelectronics research—and reached substantive agreements to place doctoral students at the forefront of European R&D.

Deepening the Strategic Partnership with imec: Doctoral Students to Join the Forefront of European R&D

The highlight of the mission was the consensus reached with the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (imec) in Belgium on specific cooperation models. In strategic discussions led by Dr. Paul Heremans, imec's Executive Vice President and Corporate co-Chief Technology Officer (co-CTO), together with senior executives, two key directions were established:

• First, CCU AIM-HI doctoral students would be sent to imec for one-year research exchanges, participating directly in cutting-edge projects in silicon photonics and advanced semiconductor processes.

• Second, the partnership would be expanded with the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) serving as a bridge, deepening cooperation in technology licensing, shared research platforms, and industry alliance integration.

Dr. Heremans emphasized that silicon photonics would be a critical technology for overcoming the data bandwidth and power consumption bottlenecks of the AI era—a vision that aligned directly with the development goals of CCU's Silicon Photonics Semiconductor Academy.

Building Academic Networks Across Four Top European Universities: Establishing Structured Talent Cultivation Models

In addition to industrial alignment, the delegation built a robust academic network across the heart of Europe:

• University of Antwerp (UAntwerpen): The team held academic discussions on applying first-principles calculations to predict defects in silicon photonic materials.

• KU Leuven: Discussions with the Micro- and Nanosystems (MNS) group resulted in an agreement on student exchange. The two sides planned to institutionalize a cooperation model in which CCU doctoral students would receive training in MEMS and optoelectronic integration processes.

• Ghent University (UGent): At Ghent University, a world-renowned center for photonics, the team toured the silicon photonics cleanrooms and packaging labs of the Photonics Research Group, laying the groundwork for future joint research and faculty exchanges.

• Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e): The delegation explored heterogeneous integration, a mainstream approach for next-generation optoelectronic chips.

Learning from the ASML Industry-Academia Paradigm with Diplomatic Support

To draw lessons for strengthening industry-academia collaboration in Taiwan, the delegation visited ASML's global headquarters in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. The team studied in depth the industry-academia partnership model between ASML and TU/e, which featured a 10-year strategic memorandum, a joint investment of over €180 million, and the joint training of 40 doctoral students per year. This exemplary model serves as a concrete benchmark for CCU's future collaborations with Taiwan's semiconductor equipment industry.

The final stop of the mission was the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, where the delegation was warmly received by Representative Jhy-wey Shieh. Representative Shieh highly praised CCU's proactive international strategy in silicon photonics, and the office pledged continued support in providing information and resources to serve as a bridge for Taiwan-Europe academic cooperation.

Future Outlook: Cementing an International Position in Silicon Photonics

Vice President Hao-Teng Yao stated that the mission not only strengthened the existing partnership between AIM-HI and imec but also established concrete entry points for cooperation with four leading European universities. Moving forward, AIM-HI would leverage this newly built network to advance substantive research collaboration and talent cultivation, providing critical momentum for the international development of the Silicon Photonics Semiconductor Academy and reinforcing CCU's position as a global hub for advanced semiconductor packaging.