Collaborate to Advance Sustainable Interdisciplinary Development and Net-Zero Transition
At this critical juncture, as the world advances toward net-zero transformation and sustainable development, the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER) and the National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) formally signed a cooperation agreement today (18th). Both institutions will combine their substantial expertise in sustainability research and net-zero transformation to jointly advance cross-disciplinary collaboration, opening a new chapter for Taiwan’s sustainable future.
The signing ceremony was held in Conference Room 1 of the NTHU’s Administrative Center. The agreement was signed by NTHU Vice President Nyan-Hwa Tai and CIER President Hsien-Ming Lien, with distinguished guests including Associate Vice President Shang-Hsiu Hu for Research and Development Affairs, President Chien-Te Fan of the College of Sustainability, Vice Dean Hsiu-Chuan Chou, and Professor Martin Lo from the NTHU, as well as Director Je-Liang Liou and Division Chief Shih-Fang Lo from the CIER serving as witnesses.
The NTHU’s College of Sustainability was established on August 1, 2024, and officially inaugurated on May 23, 2025. It represents one of Taiwan’s few dedicated academic colleges focused specifically on sustainability issues, encompassing interdisciplinary research across technology, management, and policy domains while actively developing expertise in sustainable governance, climate policy, and sustainable technologies. The CIER stands as Taiwan’s longest-established economic policy think tank, having deepened its commitment to sustainability transformation in recent years. This includes assisting Taiwan in planning and implementing carbon pricing mechanisms, organizing the Circular Economy Awards, and serving as the primary domestic partner for the RE100 international initiative.
During his speech, Vice President Nyan-Hwa Tai addressed that, “the NTHU has consistently committed to integrating academic research with societal needs, and the establishment of the College of Sustainability represents a crucial step in responding to global challenges. This collaboration with the CIER will not only deepen the university’s influence in policy and industrial spheres. We also aim to enable cross-disciplinary connections that allow sustainability principles to take root in Taiwan.”
President Lien of the CIER emphasized that “the NTHU represents one of Taiwan’s premier universities, and both institutions share a common vision for sustainable development and net-zero transformation. Through this cooperation agreement, they aim to combine the research capabilities of a policy think tank with the innovative strength of a university, comprehensively advancing Taiwan toward a sustainable future through research, talent development, and industrial implementation.”
President Chien-Te Fan of the College of Sustainability further explained that, “the CIER has long held a leadership position in developing and implementing critical national financial and economic policies, including national sustainability initiatives. This leadership extends particularly to the crucial area of carbon pricing, which represents a collaborative research and development field that the college will actively pursue.”
Under this cooperation agreement, both parties will engage in multifaceted collaboration encompassing joint faculty and research personnel appointments, collaborative participation in specialized research and industry-academia projects, cooperative promotion of talent exchange and training programs, and joint planning of domestic and international exchange initiatives in sustainability and net-zero transformation fields. This partnership symbolizes concrete action through industry-government-academia collaboration while establishing a foundation for cultivating sustainability talent with both international perspectives and local implementation capabilities.
The cooperation carries high expectations as both parties will operate under the core principle of “combining policy with industry and advancing academic theory alongside practical applications.” Together, we aim to create a model for cross-disciplinary cooperation and continue securing advantageous positions for Taiwan in the global sustainability competition while advancing toward a sustainable future.