| STORY CREDITS Writer: Corena Pereira Photo: Megh Modi |
“Geographically and geopolitically, semiconductors have become extremely important, and the industry must seriously consider supply-chain resilience. Long-term cooperation is essential, especially given geopolitical risks,” said Prof Li-Chun Wang, Distinguished Chair Professor and Dean of College of Electrical and Computer Engineering at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU, during his two-day visit to the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) on January 13-14, 2026, emphasizing the global strategic significance of the semiconductor mission.
Prof Wang and Mr Ming-Jer Chen, CEO of Ampak Technology Inc., engaged with students and faculty to explore avenues for India–Taiwan collaboration in semiconductor research.
“Capital investment alone is not enough; investment in people and the academic ecosystem is the real foundation of the semiconductor mission.” Prof Wang opined.
On India–Taiwan collaboration, he expressed strong belief that, “Semiconductor collaboration between India and Taiwan can be highly comprehensive and should span AI, systems design, and manufacturing together, a process of co-evolution and deep collaboration.” He also noted that Taiwan’s strengths in manufacturing, system integration, and reliability testing can complement India’s capabilities in chip design and computational sciences.
Prof Wang also praised IIT Gandhinagar for the quality of education and design thinking, and emphasized the importance of practical exposure and interdisciplinary learning. He further stated, “Collaboration should focus on cross-disciplinary integration. Students need exposure not only to IC design but also to system-level and manufacturing challenges. Exposure to real manufacturing environments, especially in Taiwan, can help reduce design risks and improve outcomes.
“During the interaction with the students here, I observed that students at IIT Gandhinagar have a strong foundation and a high level of curiosity, reflecting their proactiveness. They possess the skills to articulate ideas clearly, which is essential for cross-disciplinary integration. I am impressed by their talent, and this is exactly what is needed for next generation semiconductor researchers and engineers,” he stated.
Prof Wang highlighted that trust, long-term partnerships, and collaborative initiatives like joint research, PhD co-supervision, and faculty engagement can build cross-disciplinary talent, adding that strong India–Taiwan academic collaboration could serve as a global model.
During the visit, discussions were held on potential avenues for collaboration between IIT Gandhinagar, NYCU, and Ampak Technology, including academic exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, and industry-academia partnerships, particularly in semiconductor technology.
Prof Wang, a globally recognised researcher in wireless communications and semiconductor innovation, delivered an address to IITGN students highlighting academic and research opportunities at NYCU. His talk focused on emerging trends and global prospects in semiconductor and AI technologies, encouraging students to explore advanced research and higher education pathways.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, said, “IIT Gandhinagar is committed to strengthening international research partnerships in advanced technologies, and this visit is a step forward in building a robust academic and industrial collaboration with Taiwan.
“With Gujarat emerging as a growing hub for semiconductor research and manufacturing, such collaborations will provide our students with hands-on exposure, advanced training, and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge chip design, systems integration, and AI-driven applications, preparing them for the national and global semiconductor ecosystem,” he stressed.
Mr Ming-Jer Chen engaged extensively with students, sharing insights into career and research opportunities at Ampak Technology Inc. He discussed the company’s work across integrated circuit design, manufacturing, and advanced packaging, offering students a perspective on industry-driven innovation in the semiconductor ecosystem.
“I am quite impressed with the students’ skills, research projects, and the quality of the labs. The talent here, combined with their hands-on approach, shows great potential for collaboration.”
He added, “Taiwan and India already have a strong academic and industrial relationship. Expanding joint projects, PhD collaborations, and summer research programs can help build engineering talent not only in hardware but also in AI, computing, and IoT solutions. Such engagement will support innovation, foster cross-disciplinary skills, and help scale future business and research collaborations between our countries.”
Mr Ming-Jer Chen, CEO of Ampak Technology Inc., said, “Some students have started their studies in Taiwan, while parts of our team can also work and study here at the IIT Gandhinagar campus, benefiting from its facilities and research environment. This arrangement will support ongoing research in AI and IoT technologies, allowing our team to collaborate closely while leveraging the campus resources and infrastructure.”
“We eagerly look forward to the inception of joint academic programs with NYCU Taiwan, which will be of immense benefit to our undergraduates and postgraduates,” said Prof Bhaskar Datta, Dean of Academics, IIT Gandhinagar.
As part of the visit, IIT Gandhinagar students and faculty showcased their ongoing research, followed by detailed discussions with the delegation. The presentations covered a broad spectrum of cutting-edge areas, including integrated circuit design technology, semiconductor materials, battery technology, quantum computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and wearable electronics.
The visit marked an important step toward fostering international collaboration and strengthening IIT Gandhinagar’s engagement with global leaders in academia and the semiconductor industry.