Oxford Instruments boosting Asia-Pacific R&D center at Taiwan’s ITRI

Oxford Instruments plc plans to increase personnel at its R&D base at Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), and to leverage ITRI’s R&D capacities to strengthen their cooperative relationship in technology development.

Y. Tim Tsai (advisor at the Department of Industrial Technology under the Ministry of Economic Affairs) and Catherine Nettleton (representative of the British Office Taipei) jointly witnessed the formal signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) by ITRI vice president Dr Jia-Ruey Duann and Adam Jaufurally, finance director of Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology (OIPT). Cooperation will be expanded to MEMS, micro-LEDs, silicon photonics, and the development of other optoelectronic components and equipment technology.

ITRI’s research in semiconductors and optoelectronics span upstream, midstream and downstream industrial supply chains, underpinning the development of related industries in Taiwan, noted Duann. ITRI and Oxford Instruments first signed an MOU on cooperation in 2006, after which ITRI’s MEMS Center and Oxford Instruments engaged in close cooperation and developed HB-LED-related technology. The expanding research capacities under the latest agreement aim to not only aid the future development of traditional LED-related technology but also to focus on cooperation in emerging technologies and applications in micro-LEDs and silicon photonics. It is hoped that the collaborative efforts will promote semiconductor technology applications and expedite economic growth in Asian emerging markets, adds Duann.

Oxford Instruments is attracted to Taiwan due to the technology and comprehensive industrial supply chain in its semiconductor industry, comments Jaufurally. As ITRI plays a key role in R&D, Oxford Instruments is interested in expanding its collaboration with both ITRI and Taiwan industry. The firm will jointly hold precision testing/analysis training courses with ITRI, making ITRI an important base for Oxford Instruments in the Asia-Pacific in training engineering R&D personnel, he adds.

Nettleton said that, since the British government looks favorably on Oxford Instruments’ expanded cooperation with ITRI (along with bilateral interaction in technology and innovation), the UK will actively assist British enterprises and startups in engaging in R&D cooperation in Taiwan. The UK this year has set out five priority areas for technology cooperation with Taiwan – life sciences, advanced manufacturing, digital economy, space science, and clean energy – which correspond to the ‘5+2’ Industrial Innovation Plan being promoted by the Taiwan government. Nettleton expects these efforts to further strengthen innovative cooperation in these fields.