Professor Yung Chang from Chung Yuan Christian University’s Department of Chemical Engineering was honored with the “Industry-Academia Contribution Award” at the 9th National Industrial Innovation Awards, hosted by Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs on June 10. He is the first professor from a private university to receive this honor in the field of biomedical materials and chemistry.
Professor Chang’s work in biomedical membranes led to the founding of PuriBlood, Taiwan’s first advanced blood purification biotech company, exemplifying successful academic-industry technology transfer.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ National Industrial Innovation Award honors outstanding contributions to high-value innovation in humanities, technology, and services. Since the introduction of the Industry-Academia Contribution category in its 5th edition, only eight professors nationwide have received the award. Professor Yung Chang is not only among this select group, but also the first recipient from a private university in the field of biomedical materials and chemistry—highlighting his leadership and impact across both academia and industry. The award was personally presented by Premier Cho Jung-tai at the ceremony.
Professor Yung Chang has led 76 interdisciplinary industry-academic projects, supporting domestic and international companies in developing innovative products with over NT$130 million in total R&D funding. His collaborations include major enterprises such as Germany’s Sartorius and Taiwan’s Formosa Plastics Group. Together with Formosa’s Nan Ya Plastics, he helped establish Taiwan’s first blood bag manufacturing facility, with a first-phase investment exceeding NT$800 million and an annual capacity of 4 million filter and bag sets. He also contributed to advancing dual-ion material applications, demonstrating exceptional cross-sector innovation capabilities.
Professor Chang developed a dual-ion charge-biased polymer membrane separation technology capable of precisely removing leukocytes. The system filters 500 mL of whole blood in just 7 minutes with a 99.99% efficiency, making it the fastest and most effective filtration method in the world. This breakthrough has been widely adopted by blood centers and medical institutions across Taiwan, enhancing transfusion safety for over 500,000 recipients and marking a significant advancement in transfusion medicine.
In addition to his dedication to research, Professor Yung Chang is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers. He has trained over 160 students across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, contributing significantly to Taiwan’s technological development. He also serves as the Director of the Industry-Academia Collaboration Division and the Center for Membrane Technology at CYCU, where he promotes campus innovation and external industry-academic partnerships.
Upon receiving the award, Professor Yung Chang expressed gratitude to his alma mater, Chung Yuan Christian University, for providing an environment that nurtures learning, exploration, and practical innovation. He shared,
“Innovation is the driving force behind progress, and perseverance is the foundation for achieving goals. I hope to work hand in hand with others to shape a better future, turning every effort into a meaningful force that benefits society and continues to drive change and advancement in the world.”
