2 for 1: Rutgers, NJIT both to become research partners with Taipei Tech

TAIPEI, Taiwan — In a sign of commitment to STEM education as well as a commitment to working together, Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology announced Friday the creation of new academic partnerships with National Taipei University of Technology, one of the top research universities in Taiwan.

Gov. Phil Murphy has promoted New Jersey’s educated workforce and strong institutions of higher learning throughout the 2023 New Jersey East Asia Economic Mission, the announcement — just the latest in a long string of academic MOUs — shows the ability for the state to be a leader in academic research.

“New Jersey has long been recognized as a bastion for educational excellence,” Murphy said. “Today, we are not only strengthening the ties between New Jersey and Taiwan’s educational institutions, we are paving a path for new, game-changing technological breakthroughs.”

Choose New Jersey CEO Wes Mathews said the signings are all about the talent in New Jersey.

“The partnerships forged today signal that the international community recognizes the strength of New Jersey and its academic institutions,” he said. “At home and abroad, these agreements will benefit students by harnessing faculty and staff expertise in local and international projects.”

Rutgers – New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway agreed.

“Rutgers-New Brunswick is the nation’s No. 15 top public university and a home to interdisciplinary research — where the life sciences, engineering and other fields come together to solve problems and discover new knowledge,” she said. “We are proud to partner with National Taipei University of Technology and look forward to jointly discovering new innovations and elevating the academic and career paths of our students.”

The National Taipei University of Technology is referred to as Taipei Tech. Its president, Sea-Fue Wang, was pleased with the announcements.

“This signing ceremony marks a significant milestone as we come together to strengthen the bonds of collaborations with NJIT and Rutgers University, two of the top higher education institutions in the United States,” she said. “Taipei Tech, as the oldest technical school in Taiwan, has been cultivating a significant amount of entrepreneurs to motivate Taiwan’s industrialization.

“The link of Taipei Tech with the two universities in New Jersey represents the link of Taiwanese companies with international trends of technology. I am confident that our shared commitment to innovation, learning and progress will yield remarkable results.”

A look at the agreements:

Rutgers and Taipei Tech

• The agreement: Signed by Tony Calcado (chief operating officer of Rutgers) and Wang (president of Taipei Tech), the agreement forms a partnership between Rutgers University School of Engineering and Taipei Tech. The collaboration will help propel New Jersey’s reputation as an academic excellence and technological innovation leader.
• The quote: “Like Taipei Tech, Rutgers School of Engineering values collaboration as the driver of engineering innovation. This partnership leverages our common goal of establishing joint learning and degree programs to enhance global education as well as cooperative research initiatives across engineering disciplines to foster technological advancements,” Alberto Cuitiño, dean of Rutgers University School of Engineering.

NJIT and Taipei Tech

• The agreement: Signed by Teik Lim (president of NJIT) and Wang, it establishes a Joint Research Protocol of Academic Collaboration initiative between the two universities.
• The quote: “NJIT is excited to work with Taipei Tech on joint research efforts related to a wide range of topics, including bioscience and bioengineering, materials science, the environment and sustainability, robotics and machine intelligence, as well as data science, transportation systems and supply chain management,” Lim said.