ITRI Establishes Second Presence in Europe

EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS--(Marketwired - Jun 29, 2013) - In a bid to strengthen innovation-oriented R&D cooperation between Taiwan and the Netherlands, Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has announced the establishment of the Eindhoven-HTC Office, ITRI. The office, which will formally commence operations at High Tech Campus Eindhoven on June 28^th, will become ITRI's second presence in Europe. ITRI previously opened an office in Germany.

Dr. Frank Chen, the General Director of ITRI International Center and the Managing Director of ITRI's Eindhoven-HTC Office, stated that the emphasis of the office will mainly be on developing and maintaining an innovation-oriented R&D network and partnership with the Netherlands, while assisting Taiwan's industrial, academic, and research communities in forging multi-disciplinary and complementary R&D cooperation initiatives with counterparts in the Netherlands.

Initially, the office will focus on three areas, namely high-tech systems and materials, health and life sciences, and green energy sources. In addition, the PENROSE Project will also be an important cooperative mission, helping Taiwan's 3D printing industry and factories to enter the EU market, thereby developing high value-added markets throughout the globe and international collaborative opportunities.

Vice Economics Minister Woody Duh and the MOEA's Department of Industrial Technology Director Chiun-Neng Lin, who are currently visiting Europe, have been invited to attend the opening of ITRI's Eindhoven-HTC Office and the ceremony marking the establishment of the 3D printing technology international alliance. Vice Minister Duh expressed his hopes that the innovation-oriented R&D cooperation mechanism between Taiwan and the Netherlands will foster the exchange of innovative technology and lead to the development of business opportunities. This will not only build momentum for related cooperation between Taiwan and Europe and enhance the partnership between Taiwan and the EU, but will also expand Taiwan's cooperative foundation in Europe with respect to trade, innovative R&D, and research, he said.

Mr. Cees Admiraal, the Business Development Director of High Tech Campus Eindhoven, stated that the Campus is one of Europe's leading centers for the development of technology and is the capital of innovation in the Netherlands. Mr. Admiraal extended a warm welcome to ITRI on the creation of its Eindhoven-HTC Office. The introduction of foreign technology and talent will help to spark industrial development and raise the level of innovative R&D, he said.

Timed with the opening of the Eindhoven-HTC Office, ITRI and renowned research institution TNO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek) also have signed an agreement to jointly promote the 3D Printing Technology International Alliance (PENROSE Project). The two organizations will focus on opportunities associated with the third wave of the industrial revolution, honing in on 3D printing technology. They will establish an internationally open innovative R&D platform to develop high technology, high precision, and highly complexity components and products. This initiative is expected to generate new business opportunities for industry in both Taiwan and the Netherlands.

Introduction to ITRI:
As a national R&D organization engaging in applied research and technical services, ITRI aims to develop innovative technology to assist in creating value for Taiwan's manufacturing sector. Founded in 1973, ITRI has helped train more than 70 CEOs and has incubated more than 225 startups and spinoffs. Both Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and United Microelectronics Corp., world leaders in the semiconductor industry, can trace their origins to ITRI. In addition, ITRI engages in long-term collaborative R&D arrangements with MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of California at Berkeley, and Stanford University. It founded ITRI International Inc. in the Silicon Valley and has established offices in Japan, Germany and Russia.

In recent years, ITRI has continued to focus on systems, software and services in its drive to engage in state-of-the-art cross-disciplinary R&D. This research, covering fields such as information and communications, electronics and optoelectronics, material, chemical and nanotechnology, medical device and biomedical technologies, mechanical systems, and green energy and environmental technologies, has helped ITRI accumulate over 18,000 patents. The organization is undertaking a comprehensive initiative to promote a green and low-carbon campus. It is also working to strengthen the commercialization of its research achievements and provide industrial services, thereby expanding the benefits of applied science and technology for the greater good. With a workforce of more than 5,000 highly talented individuals, ITRI continues to embrace the objective of engaging in technological research and development to generate industrial development, create economic value and enhance social wellbeing. ITRI has played an instrumental role in developing groundbreaking and crucial technologies and is working together with industry to nurture emerging technologies and enterprises that will help to create a future characterized by innovation and sustainability. http://www.itri.org.tw/