NCKU and TSMC Announce Long-term Collaboration for Innovation in Higher Education

Alliance forms foundation for cooperative research efforts in technology-enhanced education
Michelle, News Center
September 9, 2008

The National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) yesterday (9th) inked and unveiled an ambitious alliance to conduct research and create new technologies that will strengthen industry-academia cooperation and widen human capital database. In the future, both parties will collaborate closely in research and technology development to promote the advanced technology to semiconductor manufacturing and to cultivate more talented professionals. This agreement will certainly create a win-win for both NCKU and TSMC.

The signing ceremony was launched at 4:20 pm on NCKU campus and the agreement was signed by Academician Michael, M.C. Lai, the President of NCKU, and Mr. Chun-Shen, Chen, the Vice President of TSMC in Global wise and Marketing, with the aim to build database of human capitals and to promote technology for semiconductor industry by bringing together R&D capability on both sides.

¡§TSMC has been playing a critical role on Taiwan¡¦s economy to turning labor-intensive industry to knowledge-driven high technology industry,¡¨ said Academician Michael, M.C. Lai, the President of NCKU. ¡§This agreement will further strengthen the collaboration between NCKU and TSMC on the aspect of human capital cultivation,¡¨ the President added.

Mr. Chun-Shen, Chen from TSMC praised NCKU¡¦s contribution on human capital cultivation and express expectation for the newly signed agreement.

The agreement was initiated 3 years ago and will be extended from this year for next 5 years to extend current collaboration to cover more subjects. The collaboration covers collaboration in research projects, students¡¦ paper contests, faculty research projects on sabbatical leave, outstanding students¡¦ recruiting projects, career consulting projects, elite¡¦s cultivation project, and so on. This year¡¦s newly signed agreement shows emphasis on human capital cultivation over the newly added collaboration items: outstanding students¡¦ recruiting project and part-time job project for students of disability.

Based on a shared commitment to excellence in technology-enhanced education, the ¡§TSMC research award for outstanding students¡¨ will be given to NCKU students who have conducted in-depth researches related to semiconductors. Dubbed with ¡§entrepreneur mentor¡¨, TSMC engineers assist the NCKU students in research work and theses in order to enhance students¡¦ knowledge on semiconductors and to enrich interaction between both parties. Faculty members of NCKU on sabbatical leave will also be granted with research opportunities to access research facilities in TSMC. Furthermore, TSMC will have the privilege to recruit NCKU graduates or alumni who are recommended by NCKU.

To express concerns to NCKU students of disability, opportunities on part-time jobs will also be offered by the TSMC to perform general administrative work. The collaborative academic conferences, activities and projects will bring NCKU students to have more understandings about TSMC. Some NCKU will also be given internship in NCKU during summer vacation to learn more in career and turn the theory on book into practice.

About TSMC
Established in 1987, TSMC is the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry. As the founder and leader of this industry, TSMC has built its reputation on offering advanced wafer production processes and unparalleled manufacturing efficiency. From its inception, TSMC has consistently offered the foundry industry's leading technologies to its customers. The company's manufacturing capacity exceeds 8 million 8-inch equivalent wafers in 2007, while its revenues represent some 50% of the dedicated foundry segment in the semiconductor industry.
In 2002, TSMC became the first semiconductor foundry to enter the ranks of the top 10 IC companies in terms of worldwide sales. It continues to move up and is ranked number sixth in 2007 according to the IC insight research report in March, 2008.
As the first dedicated foundry, TSMC has consistently experienced strong growth by building solid partnerships with its customers, large and small. IC suppliers from around the world trust TSMC with their manufacturing needs, due to its unique integration of cutting-edge process technologies, pioneering design services, manufacturing productivity and product quality.
TSMC operates two advanced 300mm wafer fabs, four 8-inch wafer fabs, and one 6-inch wafer fab. Fab operations are centralized in Taiwan, primarily in the Hsinchu Science Park and the Tainan Science Park. TSMC fabs are also located in Camas, Washington (WaferTech), Singapore (SSMC, a joint venture with NXP Semiconductors), and Shanghai, China.
TSMC's headquarters is located in the Hsinchu Science Park, with account management and engineering service offices in China, India, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Taiwan and the United States. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the trading symbol of TSM.