Chung Yuan Christian University and Zhen Ding Technology Group held a ceremony on April 30 to mark the donation of equipment and the launch of the “Green AI-PCB Co-Creation Lab.” Zhen Ding donated equipment worth approximately NT$10 million to support the lab and integrate industry R&D resources into academic programs, enabling students to engage with advanced manufacturing and real-world applications.
CYCU President Li Ying-Ming stated that the partnership will further strengthen industry–academia collaboration, starting from green materials research to tackle challenges in AI high-speed computing and data transmission, with future expansion into frontier areas such as quantum technology—enhancing Taiwan’s global competitiveness in the PCB industry.
Zhen Ding Technology Group, a global leader in PCB manufacturing, partnered with Chung Yuan Christian University in a milestone industry–academia collaboration to advance electro-optical integration technologies. The event was attended by CYCU President Li Ying-Ming, Vice President Wu Tsung-Yuan, Dean Ye Rui-Ming, and Zhen Ding executives Jian Zhen-Fu and Hsieh Chin-Hsien.
Zhen Ding donated PCB manufacturing and inspection equipment worth approximately NT$10 million—including FT-IR, industrial microscopes, coordinate measuring machines, and PNL bonding systems—and co-established a “Green AI-PCB Co-Creation Lab” as a key hub for collaborative research and advanced technology development.
Li Ying-Ming, President of Chung Yuan Christian University, emphasized that AI and semiconductor growth depends on advanced substrates, PCBs, and efficient data transmission. The partnership with Zhen Ding Technology Group focuses on green AI infrastructure, optical interconnects, and talent development through integrated academic–industry training.
Jian Zhen-Fu noted that rising demand in AI and high-performance computing is driving PCB industry growth, requiring more cross-disciplinary talent. The collaboration and new lab also represent a strategic step in advancing industry–academia cooperation, ESG goals, and future talent cultivation.
Ye Rui-Ming, Dean of Science at Chung Yuan Christian University, noted that the collaboration targets AI/HPC-driven high-speed data transmission, advancing on-board optical interconnects and polymer waveguides to transition PCBs toward electro-optical integration (EO-PCB). The co-creation lab will focus on waveguide fabrication, optoelectronic coupling, and board-level optical architectures to overcome data transfer bottlenecks.
To support talent development, Zhen Ding Technology Group awarded internship packages to selected students. Representative speaker Lin Jin-Xuan shared hands-on experience in waveguide research, highlighting gains in problem-solving, iterative improvement, and interdisciplinary teamwork through industry–academia collaboration.
Chung Yuan Christian University and Zhen Ding Technology Group co-launched an interdisciplinary course on optical waveguide materials, processes, and AI applications, co-taught by faculty and industry experts to strengthen practical training and align students with industry needs.
The joint team also secured Taiwan’s NSTC applied research grant for a project on green AI infrastructure and hybrid polymer waveguide–based PCB optical interconnects—making CYCU the only private comprehensive university funded in this field, highlighting its strength in advanced optoelectronic integration.
CYCU expressed appreciation for Zhen Ding’s equipment donation, noting it reinforces industry–academia collaboration. The university will continue integrating materials, photonics, electronics, and semiconductor expertise to serve as a key R&D and talent hub, accelerating Taiwan’s transition toward green AI and EO-PCB technologies.
