As global manufacturing accelerates toward smart, low-carbon, and high-value production, Taiwan’s machine tool industry stands at a critical turning point. While technological upgrades are essential, more and more companies realize that the true key to successful innovation and transformation lies not only in equipment and systems, but in the ability to continuously cultivate, retain, and accumulate critical talent.
To bridge the rural-urban educational gap, TMBA hosted the "Smart Machinery Practical Workshop" in the Hualien-Taitung region, attracting over 40 vocational students. Supported by industry leaders like YCM, Victor Taichung, and FANUC Taiwan, the curriculum integrated traditional CNC machining with cutting-edge collaborative robot simulations, emphasizing a "Theory × Practice" approach. Under expert mentorship, students engaged in group challenges involving path planning and troubleshooting, transforming abstract concepts into ready-to-use skills. This initiative not only deepened their understanding of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing but also empowered students in remote areas with the technical proficiency needed for the digital transformation era, showcasing the impact of industry-academia collaboration.
To address demographic shifts and industrial restructuring, MOEA, MOE, MOL, and TMBA convened a symposium focused on industry-academia integration, technical training, international recruitment, and digital education. TMBA representatives urged strengthening vocational training, increasing stipends, and establishing competency assessments to bridge talent gaps. The industry also advocates for AI knowledge platforms and Digital Twin technology to enhance training efficiency and reduce costs. Government agencies pledged to refine vocational systems and cross-departmental collaboration to build a predictable, flexible talent ecosystem, ensuring Taiwan’s smart machinery industry remains competitive globally.
Founded in 1983, KENTURN Industrial Corp. specializes in machine spindles and cutting tools, believing talent is the core of competitiveness. Facing challenges from location and demographic shifts, the company actively leverages government programs, promotes professional training, and strengthens industry-academia collaboration to develop new hires and interns. It also adopts iPAS competency certification to enhance skills and recruitment efficiency. Guided by the philosophy of “cherishing and nurturing talent for sustainable inheritance,” KENTURN is committed to building a highly competitive and sustainable enterprise.
Workshop, held in Hualien, aims to equip rural students with professional skills in smart machinery and bridge the gap between theory and practice. Combining lectures with hands-on training, the camp offers two tracks: Mechanical Design and Electromechanical Integration. Industry experts provided guidance and access to advanced technologies and equipment. The program not only enhanced students’ technical abilities and sparked interest but also promoted industry-academia collaboration, laying a solid foundation for future careers. The workshop received high praise from both teachers and students for its practical value and contribution to talent development.
On July 18, the Machine Tool Association visited Yingxi Precision Industry to observe its achievements in smart manufacturing and low-carbon transformation. Yingxi specializes in precision nut development and established the world’s only national-level testing lab for such products. The company promotes digital management, service-oriented manufacturing, and automated production. It also values academia-industry collaboration and social responsibility, offering scholarships and organizing volunteer activities to give back to society.
The 20th Hiwin Thesis Award was held on March 23, with National Central University winning the Gold, Bronze, and Honorable Mention prizes, making it the biggest winner. A total of 90 theses competed nationwide, and after a rigorous review, 13 were awarded. Since 2004, Hiwin Technologies has invested over NT$10 million annually to promote precision machinery research and arranged visits for winners to Japan’s major exhibitions and leading manufacturers to broaden global perspectives. Known as the “Nobel Prize of the mechanical industry,” the award continues to inspire academia and industry innovation.
The smart machinery industry faces talent shortages caused by declining birth rates and an aging population. To address this, the government integrates resources from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Labor through an inter-ministerial platform. Key measures include industry-academia collaboration, recruiting overseas students, attracting foreign professionals, and implementing migrant worker retention programs. These initiatives aim to develop skills aligned with market needs, enhance industrial competitiveness, and accelerate internationalization, laying a solid foundation for long-term growth.
Yang Dehua, founding chairman of the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), was born into a farming family in Taichung. He graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Chung Hsing University, was named an Outstanding Alumnus in the seventh cohort, and earned a master’s degree from the EMBA Leadership Program at Chung Hsing. In 1975, at the age of just 30, he founded Chengtai Machinery with an entrepreneurial spirit of innovation. Today, the group encompasses Chengtai Machinery, Awea Mechantronic, and Yih Cheon Machinery, all of which hold a significant position in the global machine tool market.
On December 5, National Chung Hsing University held a significant donation ceremony where Takizawa Technology donated seven sets of customized “Prognostic Diagnostic Teaching and Research Equipment” worth over NT$10 million to the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The equipment enhances educational resources, provides hands-on learning, and supports research on spindle bearing life and ball screw diagnostics, aligning with Industry 4.0 and green smart manufacturing. Its predictive maintenance technology improves energy efficiency, boosts productivity, optimizes resource use, and extends equipment lifespan, reducing carbon footprint. This collaboration exemplifies academia-industry partnership and Takizawa’s commitment to sustainable innovation
