On November 7, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) hosted its Innovation Day as part of its anniversary celebration week. The event featured over 60 technological and innovative achievements from research teams within NCKU, the Greater South Research Industrialization Platform, university spin-offs, and various government-supported initiatives, including the Ministry of Education’s U-Start Program, the National Science and Technology Council’s Sprout and Top-notch Projects, the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Value Creation 2.0 and PRE-Value Creation Programs, NCKU’s Innovation Dream Project, the Phoenix Startup Platform, the Tainan Science Park Startup Workshop, and the NCKU Precision Health Industry Accelerator.

The event also included the Innovation Forum, which explored the theme of “University-Industry Co-creation and Sustainable Engagement.” Former Minister of Science and Technology and NCKU alumnus, Prof. Liang-Gee Chen, emphasized the university’s role as a driving force for creativity and societal progress. He highlighted the importance of transforming academic research into impactful societal applications, noting that many high-tech innovations trace their origins to NCKU alumni. Prof. Chen expressed his admiration for NCKU’s remarkable achievements in innovation and entrepreneurship.

The NCKU Innovation Dream Project, the only university-level program in Taiwan dedicated to supporting early-stage entrepreneurial ideas, showcased the accomplishments of 28 teams this year. These teams demonstrated how they utilized grant funding and training programs to turn their creative ideas into tangible prototypes.

Additionally, the Phoenix Startup Platform, established by NCKU in collaboration with its alumni, partnered with the NCKU Angel Investment Club to host its first-ever startup fundraising demo pitch. The event brought together investors and industry partners to explore early-stage investment opportunities. Five standout “Golden Phoenix” teams from the Phoenix Startup Platform and two additional NCKU-recommended startup teams presented their innovative products and business models, aiming to attract investment and advance their entrepreneurial ventures.