National Cheng Kung University and Masaryk University Forge Strategic Partnership Agreement Focusing on Semiconductors, Cybersecurity, Biomedicine, and Sustainability
Written by NCKU Office of Internation Affairs. Image credit to NCKU News Center
Martin Bareš, Rector of Masaryk University (MUNI) in the Czech Republic, led a delegation to visit National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) on February 10–11, 2026. During the visit, the two institutions signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement. Discussions focused on semiconductors, cybersecurity, biomedicine, and environmental sustainability. Both institutions are committed to launching pilot projects and gradually developing long-term, results-driven collaborations.
President Meng-Ru Shen (second from right), Masaryk University Rector Martin Bareš (center), Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang (first from right), MUNI Vice-Rector for Internationalization and External Relations Petr Suchý (first from left), and MUNI Vice-Rector for Lifelong Learning, Technology Transfer and Sustainability Monika Jandová (second from left), meet and exchange greetings.
Rector Martin Bareš (left) and President Meng-Ru Shen (right) engage in an in-depth discussion on the collaborative vision between the two institutions.
The presidential meeting was co-chaired by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen and MUNI Rector Martin Bareš. President Shen expressed gratitude to the MUNI delegation for their dedicated visit and highlighted the steady growth of collaboration between the two institutions since 2017. Rector Bareš thanked NCKU for its warm hospitality and expressed his anticipation of deeper engagement in academic collaboration, joint research, and student exchanges. The signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement represents the highest level of academic cooperation between the two institutions. Rector Bareš introduced the MUNI BioPharma Hub, scheduled for completion in May 2026. The hub will provide modern pharmaceutical education and feature certified small-batch drug manufacturing capabilities, strengthening the pathway from research to industrial translation. He further presented plans for the Science and Technology Park in Brno, to which President Shen noted numerous similarities in healthcare services and innovation park planning between the two institutions. President Shen also expressed appreciation for MUNI’s visit and acknowledged the Czech Republic’s support for Taiwan in international diplomatic arenas.
The two universities successfully signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement.
The presidential meeting focused on academic and industry–academia collaboration between Taiwan and the Czech Republic, discussing forward-looking plans such as biomedical hubs and science and technology parks.
Following the presidential meeting, the university-level academic cooperation meeting was chaired by Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang to further discuss the implementation of collaboration in the priority areas identified during the presidential meeting. Chair Professor Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President for International Affairs provided the delegation with an overview of NCKU’s overall development and international strategy, reviewed the history of exchanges between the two institutions, and encouraged students from Masaryk University to pursue study opportunities at NCKU through the Taiwan–Europe Connectivity Scholarship. In addition, Executive Vice President Chang introduced the Global Research Interaction Program (GRIP) to the Masaryk University delegation. This program adopts a flexible matching fund model, through which both institutions will provide matching funds and share resources to support joint research projects. Thereafter, Dean S. Felix Wu of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Associate Dean Ming-Chi Mitch Chou of the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing (AISSM), Director Liang-Yi Hung of the University Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology, and Director Tsair-Fuh Lin of the Sustainable Environment Research Laboratories presented their respective fields and discussed potential areas for collaboration in cybersecurity, semiconductors, biomedicine, and environmental research. During the meeting, both sides expressed strong interest in expanding collaboration across several areas, including joint research projects, co-authored publications, dual-degree programs with joint supervision, faculty and student exchanges, industry–academia partnerships, and joint applications for international research funding. Through a shared funding mechanism, these initiatives aim to support and encourage faculty from both universities to collaborate on international research and jointly supervise dual-degree students, laying the foundation for a stable and long-term partnership.
The university-level academic cooperation meeting established collaboration frameworks in the four key areas of semiconductors, cybersecurity, biomedicine, and environmental sustainability.
Following the institutional-level academic cooperation meeting, NCKU arranged a series of site visits for the delegation, including the Core Facility Center, the Intelligent Manufacturing Research Center, and the Medical Device Innovation Center. The visits and discussion highlights were carefully planned by Director Wen-Tai Chiu, CEO Fan-Tien Cheng, and Director Fong-Chin Su, offering an in-depth presentation of NCKU’s strengths and achievements in smart manufacturing and research and development.
In addition, to highlight Tainan’s regional advantages, NCKU arranged a visit to the Southern Taiwan Science Park on the morning of February 11. The delegation was welcomed by Chia-Ming Kuan, Secretary-General of the Southern Taiwan Science Park Administration, who provided an overview of the park and led a guided car tour around the park facilities, enabling visitors to gain a clear understanding of its layout and overall scale.
The delegation also visited NCKU’s Center for Crystal Research, located in the Delta Building at the Southern Taiwan Science Park. Associate Dean Ming-Chi Mitch Chou introduced the center’s state-of-the-art silicon carbide crystal growth technologies and equipment, and guided the delegation through the crystal exhibition room. He also shared information about the center’s research bases established in Lithuania and Latvia, allowing visitors to gain a comprehensive understanding of NCKU’s accomplishments in the field of crystal research.
The visit strengthened the partnership between NCKU and MUNI and opened the door to further collaboration in cybersecurity, semiconductors, biomedicine, and environmental research. It marked another important step forward in the two institutions’ joint pursuit of international partnership and innovative research excellence.
The Masaryk University delegation was led by Rector Prof. MUDr. Martin Bareš, Ph.D., and included Asst. Prof. Monika Jandová, Ph.D., Vice-Rector for Lifelong Learning, Technology Transfer and Sustainability; Asst. Prof. Petr Suchý, Ph.D., Vice-Rector for Internationalization and External Relations; Asst. Prof. Markéta Novotná, Ph.D., Vice-Dean for Internationalisation and Lifelong Learning at the Faculty of Economics and Administration; Assoc. Prof. Karel Kubíček, Vice-Dean for External Relations, Internationalisation and Knowledge Transfer at the Faculty of Science; Assoc. Prof. Pavel Souček from the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology, Faculty of Science, specializing in thin film and nanostructure deposition; and Assoc. Prof. Zdeněk Matěj from the Department of Computer Systems and Communications, Faculty of Informatics.
The NCKU delegation was led by President Meng-Ru Shen, and included Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang; Chair Prof. Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President for International Affairs; Prof. Hsiu-Chi Cheng, Dean of the College of Medicine; Prof. S. Felix Wu, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Chair Prof. Ming-Chi Mitch Chou, Associate Dean of the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing (AISSM); Prof. Liang-Yi Hung, Director of the University Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology and Vice President of Student Affairs; Chair Prof. Tsair-Fuh Lin from the Department of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Sustainable Environment Research Laboratories; Prof. Lih-Yih Chiou, Director of Integrated Circuit Design at AISSM; Prof. Wei-Chen Tu, Director of Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology at AISSM; Prof. Fan-Tien Cheng, CEO of the Intelligent Manufacturing Research Center; and Prof. Tsung-Lin Liu, Director of the International Relations Division in the Office of International Affairs.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2026-02-13
