Tag: National Taiwan University

As the semiconductor industry pushes transistors toward atomic dimensions, a long-standing measurement bottleneck has threatened progress: no reliable way to directly observe how charge carriers behave at the shrinking contact between metal and semiconductor. A research team led by Distinguished Professor Ya-Ping Chiu of the Department of Physics at National Taiwan University (NTU) has now overcome that barrier, developing a technique capable of probing a working chip at atomic-scale resolution. The findings were published in Nature on July 1, 2026 (Nature 655, 350–356).

The breakthrough centres on a method the team calls Operando Cross-sectional Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (Operando XSTM), which measures electron transport at the metal–semiconductor contact edge while the device is actually powered and operating. Drawing on nearly two decades of cross-sectional STM expertise, the team integrated functioning transistors into an ultra-high-vacuum platform, mechanically cleaved them to expose a clean cross-section, and scanned the contact region point by point under real operating voltages. This allowed the first direct measurement of the carrier transfer length—a core quantity governing contact resistance—without relying on model-based extrapolation. For a monolayer molybdenum disulphide transistor with a bismuth contact, the measured transfer length was roughly 2 nanometres, far below the 9.25 nanometres inferred by conventional models, confirming the design’s promise for next-generation technology nodes.

The achievement reflects a genuinely international, cross-disciplinary partnership. NTU developed the operando inspection platform; National Taiwan Normal University fabricated and electrically characterised the two-dimensional devices; and the National University of Singapore, led by Professor Lain-Jong Li, contributed materials, structural analysis, and simulation—forming a collaboration spanning materials, devices, metrology, and theory. Validated across multiple material systems, the platform establishes a versatile new standard for direct semiconductor inspection and underscores Taiwan’s deepening capacity to lead the frontier of advanced chip research on the global stage.

Experiential, project-based engineering has become one of the clearest ways for universities to translate classroom theory into real-world capability, and few programmes embody this better than student-run motorsport. At National Taiwan University (NTU), that spirit is captured by NTU Racing, a wholly student-led team that designs, builds, and tests its own electric Formula-style racecars. Its latest machine, Epsilon 6 (EP6), recently delivered the best competitive result in the team’s history, placing 11th in the electric vehicle category at Formula SAE Japan—one of Asia’s premier collegiate racing events—while also earning the JAMA Chairman Award and the Sportsmanship Award.

The road to that result was defined by pressure and problem-solving. After completing EP6 in mid-2025, the team entered Formula Student Taiwan, where rainwater breached the motor system and forced a withdrawal from the endurance race—an early but decisive lesson in waterproofing that the students corrected before travelling to Japan. There, a tougher test came off the track: inspectors initially rejected the car over safety concerns during technical inspection. Rather than accept the setback, the team drafted a formal appeal while preparing on-site modifications as a contingency. The chief judge ultimately upheld their case, allowing EP6 to compete in its original form and secure its landmark finish. For the team, the episode reflected a guiding philosophy that racing is less about building a flawless car than building the best one possible before the deadline arrives.

What distinguishes NTU Racing is a deliberately interdisciplinary and sustainable model. The team recruits students from across the university rather than engineering alone, running hands-on workshops in welding and carbon-fibre fabrication so members of every background can contribute, and it institutionalises knowledge transfer by having incoming leaders shadow veterans for months before each handover. Recently relocated to the upgraded Advanced Vehicle Research Center on NTU’s ShuiYuan Campus, the team is already developing its successor, EP7, which will advance EP6’s torque-vectoring system toward a four-wheel-drive configuration—research the students have presented at the SAE WCX 2026 World Congress. Guided by the motto “Go the extra mile,” NTU Racing offers a compelling model of how iteration, resilience, and cross-disciplinary collaboration prepare students to lead in a fast-moving global industry.

As artificial intelligence reshapes the future of medicine, cross-border academic partnerships have become essential to turning technological promise into better patient care. On March 5, 2026, National Taiwan University (NTU) hosted a high-level delegation from Mahidol University for discussions on AI, medical research, and long-term academic collaboration. Led by Vice President Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti and comprising 12 faculty specialising in information technology and medicine, the delegation was received by NTU Executive Vice President Prof. Shih-Torng Ding and Vice President for International Affairs Prof. Hsiao-Wei Yuan, reflecting the enduring partnership between the two institutions.

Founded in 1888, Mahidol University is among Thailand’s leading universities in medicine, engineering, and health sciences, and maintains close research ties with NTU across medicine, engineering, and information and communication technology. During the visit, the delegation toured the NTU Cancer Center to observe first-hand how AI is being integrated into cancer diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care, before joining NTU’s College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science for talks on future research collaboration, interdisciplinary innovation, and talent cultivation. Both sides expressed particular interest in expanding cooperation in AI for medicine, intelligent healthcare, and digital health technologies.

Representatives from both universities framed the partnership as part of a wider global movement to fuse advanced technological innovation with medical research and healthcare delivery. By strengthening joint research initiatives and academic exchange, NTU and Mahidol aim to cultivate globally competitive talent capable of shaping the future of AI-driven healthcare—reinforcing the role of Asia-Pacific institutions in the international effort to build smarter, more equitable health systems.

As higher education institutions face an urgent need to address climate change and societal welfare, integrating institutional research with global sustainability metrics has become a benchmark for modern universities. National Taiwan University (NTU) recently achieved a historic milestone by ranking 10th globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings announced at the 2026 Global Sustainable Development Congress in Jakarta. The recognition underscores NTU’s structural transition from localized academic initiatives to a comprehensive framework explicitly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The university’s advancement in the global rankings is anchored in high-performance benchmarks across four specific single-indicator categories. NTU ranked 3rd globally for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), 4th for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 9th for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and 10th for SDG 14 (Life Below Water). Speaking at the assembly, NTU President presented the university’s triple-action strategy—Innovate, Inspire, and Integrate—demonstrating how major research breakthroughs, such as NTU’s pioneering AADC gene therapy and institutional carbon-neutrality milestones, scale directly into public solutions.

Looking toward its upcoming centenary, NTU aims to fund next-generation smart infrastructure and high-impact research. By institutionalizing sustainability across campus operations, research platforms, and international partnerships, the university continues to leverage its academic capacity to address complex ecological and socio-economic challenges, establishing a scalable model for institutional social stewardship.

As the global landscape of higher education becomes increasingly competitive, institutional advancement relies on a strategic convergence of research output, internationalization, and graduate employability. In the latest QS 2027 World University Rankings, National Taiwan University (NTU) achieved its highest historical position, rising to 54th globally. This growth occurred within an expanded evaluation field that grew to 8,808 institutions worldwide, highlighting NTU’s resilient performance in key global benchmarks.

The university’s upward trajectory is primarily driven by measurable gains in academic impact, international mobility, and sustainability metrics. In research excellence, all five of NTU’s broad faculty areas placed within the global top 100 in the preceding subject rankings, with seven disciplines securing positions in the top 50, led by Classics and Ancient History at 6th globally. Concurrently, internationalization efforts have expanded through systemic initiatives, including the “Taiwan Bridge Project”—which facilitates exchanges with Nobel laureates—and specialized mobility frameworks like “NTU Beyond Borders” and the “International Mentorship Program,” which collectively enhance campus diversity and global recruitment.

A defining differentiator for NTU remains its graduate employment outcomes, where the university secured a perfect score of 100. This metric reflects strong post-graduation employment rates and significant alumni societal contributions, supported by corporate-partnered initiatives such as the “Shadowing C-Suite Executives” internship program and entrepreneurial study expeditions to Silicon Valley. Additionally, NTU earned a score exceeding 90 points in the Sustainability indicator, ranking 1st in Taiwan and 4th in Asia. NTU President stated that the university will continue to diversify its international research networks and expand global talent acquisition to reinforce its foundational academic impact.

As global industries increasingly prioritize cross-border expertise, higher education institutions play a vital role in connecting emerging professionals with international market demands. National Taiwan University (NTU), in collaboration with CBtalent, recently hosted its inaugural international talent career fair. The initiative brought together 20 enterprises spanning finance, manufacturing, information technology, electronics, and trade, establishing a centralized venue designed to address multinational recruitment needs.

Supported by regional student associations representing Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, the event drew over 300 international candidates from 37 countries, facilitating more than 450 interviews and corporate networking sessions. The opening assembly, led by NTU Associate Vice President for International Affairs Jun-Hao Lee, was attended by key institutional partners—including the National Development Council, the Ministry of Education, the Taipei Employment Service Office, and Talent Taiwan—alongside diplomatic representatives from the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, and the Thailand Trade Office.

This career fair represents a milestone in institutional career development framework design. Moving forward, NTU aims to continuously leverage academic and professional networks to link international talent with industry pipelines. By cultivating structured career opportunities and enhancing employment access, the university remains committed to supporting a globally competitive talent ecosystem and fostering a resilient professional environment for international scholars.

NTU Connects Global Leaders in Particle Physics and Cosmology

As fundamental physics and modern mathematics increasingly converge to address the core questions of the universe, strategic transnational research clusters have become vital for pioneering scientific breakthroughs. The Max Planck–IAS–NTU Center for Particle Physics, Cosmology, and Geometry—a joint initiative established by the Max Planck Society, the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), and National Taiwan University (NTU)—officially launched its collaborative research operations during an inaugural meeting at IAS in Princeton, New Jersey.

The four-day assembly was opened by IAS Director David Nirenberg, Max Planck Society President Patrick Cramer, and NTU Vice President Wan-Jiun Liao, underscoring the deep institutional commitment supporting this cross-border scientific alliance. The academic sessions convened leading researchers in physics and mathematics to evaluate structural innovations and theoretical developments in quantum field theory, scattering amplitudes, observational cosmology, and gravitational waves. By integrating advanced mathematical frameworks with empirical cosmological data, the forum provided a structured platform to examine the fundamental mechanisms driving current physical theories.

Beyond defining the center’s immediate research trajectories, the gathering served as an international node for academic exchange, featuring presentations from scholars representing Harvard University, Caltech, MIT, ETH Zürich, and Princeton University. Moving forward, the center aims to continuously leverage the distinct research capacities of its three founding institutions to accelerate foundational discoveries and cultivate high-level academic talent. This partnership model illustrates how modern research universities can coordinate institutional resources to advance global scientific inquiry and address complex theoretical challenges.

As the global demand for advanced technology infrastructure accelerates, high-level cross-border collaborations between academia, government, and industry have become essential to sustaining the semiconductor talent ecosystem. Sebastian Gemkow, Minister of the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism, and Advisor Daniel Berger, accompanied by the TSMC Human Resources team, recently made their second official visit to National Taiwan University (NTU). Hosted by OIA Dean Hsiao-Wei Yuan and Associate Dean Jun-Hao Lee, the delegation reviewed the milestone achievements of the “Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program” initiated in 2024 and discussed future frameworks for deepening institutional cooperation.

The program originated from an agreement signed in 2023 by TSMC, the Saxon State Government, and TUD Dresden University of Technology. As the inaugural and exclusive academic partner university in Taiwan for this initiative, NTU recently welcomed 30 international students representing six nationalities from three major German universities. The selected scholars undergo a comprehensive one-semester academic regimen at NTU before transitioning to TSMC’s Taichung facility for practical, hands-on training. This collaborative model positions NTU at the forefront of pioneering state-level, trilateral educational initiatives that bridge international academic knowledge with industrial applications.

To ensure rigorous academic training, eight professors from NTU’s Departments of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Engineering, and Information Management serve as mentors, delivering eight specialized semiconductor courses. Complementing this core technical training, the NTU Office of International Affairs has integrated professional career workshops, Mandarin language courses, and localized cultural immersive activities into the curriculum. This dual framework equips international students with essential technical capabilities and cross-cultural competencies, establishing a sustainable blueprint for transnational workforce development in strategic technology sectors.

As universities expand English-Medium Instruction (EMI), many face the same challenge: how to ensure students can actively participate and succeed in increasingly multilingual classrooms. At National Taiwan University (NTU), a newly certified faculty development programme is helping educators translate bilingual education policy into practical teaching strategies that support student confidence, engagement, and learning outcomes.

The EMI Teaching Resource Center at NTU recently received official certification from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education for its “EMI Plus Faculty Development Workshop.” The recognition reflects growing attention across higher education to the importance of preparing faculty not only to teach in English, but to create inclusive and effective bilingual learning environments for students from diverse linguistic and academic backgrounds.

A key feature of the programme is its integration of the internationally recognised Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) with teaching strategies tailored to EMI classrooms. Developed by a cross-disciplinary NTU team spanning life sciences, management, humanities, and engineering, the five-day, 36-hour workshop focuses on practical classroom application rather than theory alone. Faculty participants explore approaches such as the BOPPPS teaching framework and linguistic scaffolding techniques designed to reduce learning anxiety, strengthen classroom interaction, and improve student comprehension in bilingual settings.

The workshop also places strong emphasis on peer feedback and reflective teaching practice. Under the guidance of certified ISW facilitators, participants engage in multiple rounds of micro-teaching, discussion, and revision before completing a final teaching demonstration. Upon completion, educators receive certification from the Ministry of Education, the Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association, NTU, and the international ISW network.

As universities across Asia continue to strengthen bilingual education capacity, NTU hopes the programme can contribute to a wider community of educators equipped to support high-quality, student-centred multilingual learning environments.