Main Research Centers and Research Teams

Main Research Centers and Research Teams

Based on the excellent performance of our research centers, the success of international cooperation in research and development, andoutstanding industrial cooperation experiences, YZU offers its application-oriented research expertise to ensure visionary and efficient R&D strategies and maintain its leading position in key research domains. YZU continuously advances research into the areas of “Green Technology & e-Lifes. The research in the “Fuel Cell/Lithium Battery” is expected to drive the advancement of research in other areas such as biomass fuel, green materials, energy policy, and sustainable energy. The research in the “Communications Intelligence Technology” is expected to drive the advancement of research in gerontechnology, digital content, knowledge innovation, cultural innovation, and telecom policy.

Fuel Cell Research Center (FCC)

The mission of FCC is to identify and bring together the necessary elements of science, engineering, and society to make fuel cells technically and economically feasible energy conversion devices for a sustainable civilization. It also serves as a focal point for fuel cell education, development and deployment.

With a 6,600 square foot laboratory, dedicated chaired faculty positions, staff and state-of-the-art facilities, the center is quickly becoming a leader in research, development, and commercial deployment of fuel cell engineering and technology in Taiwan. In the past few years, substantial research and development grants and contracts from federal, and industrial sponsors have been conducted by more than 200 graduate (and 15 undergraduate) students, 6 research associates / post docs and 16 faculty from departments of chemical, mechanical, electrical and management.

With expertise including polymer membranes, anti-CO poison catalyst design, membrane electrode assembly (MEA), single cell and stack design, starting at December 2002, research subjects were extended to include, nano-micro structure design of MEA, alternative bipolar plate, water and thermal management, and high efficient power inverter, etc.

In 2005, Yuan Ze University was selected as one of the top tire universities by the Taiwan Ministry of Education, with a special governmental appropriation of “5 year 50 Billion NT Dollars Award” funding. The funding support began in 2006 for 5 consecutive years till 2010. One of the major focuses of the program is to develop an outstanding FCC on campus and in the nation. This funding will certainly speed up the progress of the center in acquiring more advanced equipment and recruiting more prominent permanent and visiting research specialists and professionals from Taiwan and abroad. In the near future, we have the confidence that the FCC at Yuan Ze University will become a national FCC center in Taiwan and even one of the top research centers in the Fuel Cell field in Asia.

Communications Research Center (CRC)

The Yuan Ze University Communication Research Center (YZU CRC) was founded in 2005 for two purposes: to integrate the resources for teaching and research within the university, and to promote academic-industrial cooperation in the area of telecommunications. Within the first year of its existence, CRC has succeeded in establishing itself as the sole Center of Excellence for teaching and research in Telecommunications, as founded by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan.

With the unique resources of YZU in association with the Far East Group (FEG), the main focus of CRC is object-oriented research that is organized in support of industrial needs. Three main areas have been identified for immediate actions: Distant Learning Platform, Remote Medical Technologies, and Intelligent Transportation System. All of these fields have the potential for value-added business with mass usage of broadband access. To develop the basic technologies needed, YZU-CRC has organized seven research groups, consisting of more than 20 faculty members, including one IEEE fellow and two OSA fellows. The research groups are as listed below:

·        Development of advanced technologies for wireless communications.

·        Innovative technologies for remote medical applications.

·        Broadband communications and network technologies.

·        Innovative design of communication IC.

·        Advanced optical technologies for communications.

·        Software technologies and value-added services for telecommunications.

·        Policy and management of telecommunication industries.

With FEG's strong support and rich resources in telecommunications, YZU-CRC is determined to achieve its excellence in the promotion of academic-industrial cooperation, and develop state-of-the-art technologies to fulfill the needs of industries. In addition to the mission of building a model of academic-industrial cooperation, YZU-CRC has established strong international connections with renowned universities and research centers abroad for the advancement of science and technology for telecommunications.

Research Teams

YZU is dedicated to the development of research centers and research teams, and actively cultivating these burgeoning key domains. The current development teams include:

Gerontechnology Research Center (intelligent e-life)

Founded in 2003, the center is the 1st research institute in the country to focus on the welfare of senior citizens. Based on knowledge of aging technology and products designed to provide different aging society issues solution, it combines with the industry and the cooperation of medical service organization for the implementation of research results on improving quality of life of the elderly. The Centre combines with interdisciplinary group of 10 different expert professors and was funded for research projects over the years accumulated more than NTD 60 million. With “Long-Distance Home Care (Home Telehealth System)” as the core technology, it has developed physiological signals, environmental parameters, mobility, and sleep quality monitoring system. It has also excellent achievements in home care robots . Recently, it has combined with human factors into the well-being of the elderly to carry out interactive tele-home care systems research domain.

Biopolyester macromolecule interdisciplinary research team (green materials)

This team integrates the research specialties of 8 professors from Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Graduate Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering. They engage in the research work of microbial systems, bio-process development, and biopolyester applications during the last 6 years. Through the sponsorship of the Oriental Union Chemical Co. (one of the Far Eastern Group) and National Science Council, external financial support has accumulated more than NTD 60 million. By screening of new strains and developing transgenic strains, the team is capable of high-density fermentation. The fermentation yield has reached a world-class level (above 150g/L in cell dry weight, CDW), and the biopolyester can be recovered more than 99% in purity. Currently, a pilot-plant at a scale of 20-L fermentor is undergoing a trial. The team has gained significant international visibility, and there are frequent and close activities with Japanese and Chinese mainland scholars in related fields.

Knowledge Services and Innovation Center (intelligent e-life)

The Center was established in 2006, with the experts in management strategy, service innovation, marketing, technology management, industrial economics, and information communications. It is committed to innovation of knowledge, diffusion of knowledge, industry consulting, personnel training, etc. The external research funding into this center has accumulated more than NTD 40 million. Through long-term consulting and industry-academia collaboration projects, it has involved the international medical service, digital content, service clustering, depth tourism, bicycle tourism, and other services on the different levels of participation. Moreover, in the operation of the service-oriented enterprises accumulated considerable knowledge and experience in the domestic development planning, this center also has substantial contribution in promotion of service innovation.

Solar photovoltaic research team (green energy)

This team, which is formed by the College of Engineering and College of Electrical and Communication Engineering, has worked together via trans-disciplinary way to integrate process technology platform. It is combined with the university in solar cells, photovoltaic materials, MEMS processes, optical design, nanotechnology, semiconductor, electrical, chemical materials, information environment, and other areas of expertise of faculty for the systematic design integration and related research work. Therefore, it is another new focus area for the university to actively seek external large-scale projects.

Digital contents research team (intelligent e-life)

The team, which is formed by the College of Informatics, engages in the digitalization of the graphics, character, image, and speech systems to apply them in technology, products and services. The current phase of its research goal aims to develop technological industries, humanistic arts creativity, and digital learning applications. Cooperation partners include: Delta Electronics, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Army General Hospital, etc.