The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) held its 52nd Anniversary Celebration and the 14th ITRI Fellow Induction Ceremony on the 15th, conferring the prestigious honor on five new fellows this year. Among them, two come from the semiconductor industry and are both senior executives at TSMC, one represents Taiwan’s engineering and construction sector, and two are distinguished experts in biomedical and healthcare fields. During his remarks, Yen-Hsuan Ni, Director of the National Taiwan University Healthcare Management and Development Center and one of the new fellows, joked that the diversity of professional fields among this year’s inductees might be ITRI’s “hint” — suggesting that biotechnology and medical industries could drive the next wave of development.
ITRI Chairman Tsung-Tsong Wu stated in his address that in recent years, the world has undergone major upheavals — from the pandemic to war to the rise of AI. He noted that generative artificial intelligence, amid intensifying U.S.-China global competition, represents both a profound international challenge and a historic opportunity for Taiwan as industries navigate the next 20 to 30 years.
Each of the five new fellows shared their reflections during the ceremony. The first to speak was Yuh-Jier Mii, Executive Vice President of TSMC, who has led the company’s technology advancement from 7-nanometer to the most recent 2-nanometer process, securing TSMC’s place at the pinnacle of global semiconductor innovation. He expressed deep gratitude to TSMC founder Dr. Morris Chang for building a company that empowers every colleague to reach their full potential, and he also extended special thanks to his close collaborator, TSMC Senior Vice President Wei-Jen Lo. Mii remarked that being inducted into ITRI’s 14th class of fellows alongside Lo made the recognition even more meaningful.
John T. Yu, Chairman of CTCI Group, was honored in the field of engineering. He described the recognition as both a personal encouragement and an inspiration for the entire engineering sector. Yu highlighted CTCI’s long-standing collaboration with ITRI, citing a notable example in which CTCI adopted ITRI’s process technology for wastewater reclamation at the Tainan Science Park, applying it to wafer fabrication — a benchmark for green engineering. He expressed gratitude to his 8,000 colleagues worldwide, whose collective efforts, he said, enabled him to “stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Chang-Hai Tsai, Chairman of China Medical University and Healthcare System, shared that he has been dedicated to developing a world-class university and medical center. Under his leadership, China Medical University Hospital has earned multiple international honors, and the university continues to expand its biomedical capabilities with the goal of establishing a globally distinguished and innovative biomedicine park.
TSMC Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy Development Wei-Jen Lo also expressed his delight at being named a fellow alongside Mii, joining what he called the “ITRI Fellows family.” Reflecting on their shared journey, Lo recalled how, in the face of intense global competition, TSMC entrusted them both with advancing critical technology R&D, where they worked side by side to find paths to surpass their international rivals. He remarked that every “miracle” TSMC achieved was not only a product of timing but also the result of a united team’s dedication and vision.
Yen-Hsuan Ni of National Taiwan University’s Healthcare Management and Development Center concluded by admitting that he felt both humbled and surprised by the honor. However, upon learning that two of the new fellows were from TSMC — Yuh-Jier Mii and Wei-Jen Lo — and another from China Medical University, Chang-Hai Tsai, Ni said he sensed a message: ITRI might be signaling that the next major industrial frontier lies in biotechnology and healthcare. He quipped that semiconductors, represented by TSMC, and medicine, represented by NTU, are traditionally the most sought-after academic disciplines — and that this powerful combination could well define the direction ITRI envisions for Taiwan’s future.
Resource: 工研院新科5院士授證 領域橫跨半導體、醫療、工程
