The Research Center for Semiconductor Materials and Advanced Optics (SMAO) is located at Chung Yuan Christian University. Our research center aims to promote the research on both fundamental science and industrial application for next-generation wide-bandgap compound semiconductor materials. We mainly adopt the advanced optical spectroscopy to study the properties of semiconductor materials and devices. The center is devoted to solving the core issues in industrial applications to enhance Taiwan’s research and development capabilities on semiconductor materials. Furthermore, the faculty and equipment in our center also support the teaching and research work related to talent cultivation in the semiconductor college in CYCU. The center aims to assist the Taiwanese semiconductor industry in cultivating high-level talents in semiconductor materials and optoelectronic detection to ensure that Taiwan maintains its leading position in the global semiconductor academic and industrial fields.

Taiwan has a huge advantage in the global semiconductor industry, ranking first in wafer manufacturing and chip packaging, and second in silicon wafer production capacity worldwide. To maintain Taiwan’s leading position in the global semiconductor industry, the Executive Yuan has announced a three-tiered strategy, with the national level focused on ensuring a steady supply of semiconductor talent that meets the quality and quantity demanded by the industry. The strategy also emphasizes strengthening semiconductor research in the areas of silicon-based semiconductors, compound semiconductors, and quantum technology.

According to the National Development Council’s “Three Key Talent Cultivation and Attraction Strategies,” Taiwan needs 136,000 STEM professionals annually, but the country’s universities and colleges can only produce around 97,000 relevant graduates each year. In addition, according to the human resources bank statistics, there is a shortage of 34,000 semiconductor professionals in Taiwan. Furthermore, emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, 5G, artificial intelligence, and high-speed computing all rely on next-generation semiconductor materials such as gallium nitride or silicon carbide power devices, which further increases the demand for semiconductor professionals. Therefore, the semiconductor talent pool and industry chain have become Taiwan’s most important assets for global competitiveness.

In recent years, due to increasing global chip demand, an aging population, and a shortage of STEM talent, Taiwan’s semiconductor human resources have been severely lacking. In response, the Legislative Yuan passed the “National Key Field Industry-Academia Cooperation and Talent Cultivation Innovation Act” last year, declaring semiconductors a national key development area. This has led to the establishment of four semiconductor colleges at National Taiwan University, National Chiao Tung University, National Tsing Hua University, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. The Ministry of Science and Technology also launched research programs such as the “Next-generation Compound Semiconductor Forward-looking R&D Project,” “A-generation Forward-looking Semiconductor Project,” and “Advanced Crystal Project” to enhance Taiwan’s semiconductor research and development capabilities and ensure its future leadership in the industry.

Semiconductors are a multidisciplinary subject that covers areas such as physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, optoelectronics, electronics, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. National Chung Yuan University has a strong foundation in science and technology, with over 65 years of experience and well-established semiconductor and materials-related faculties, state-of-the-art research equipment, and outstanding research capabilities. Furthermore, the university’s research performance in the field of materials science is ranked sixth among all

1. Shih-Lun Chen; Chun Kuan Wu; Chun Yu Lin; Wen-Shen Lo , “Successive-Approximation Register Analog-to-Digital Converter, Correction Method and Correction System” , Invention Patent , 2023, United States, US 11,658,675 B2 (2023.5) .
2. Shih-Lun Chen, Chun-Kuan Wu, Chun-Yu Lin, Wen-Shen Lo , “Successive-Approximation Register Analog-to-Digital Converter, Correction Method and Correction System” , Invention Patent , 2022, Taiwan (R.O.C.), I764841 (May 2022) .
3. Hsiao-Chi Chen, Cung-Guang Qi, Shih-Lun Chen , “MEASURING DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR WATER LEVEL AND METHOD THEREOF” , Invention Patent , 2021, Taiwan (R.O.C.), I731706 (2021.6) .
4. Tung-Sheng Tsai, Chong-An Wang, Kun-Heng Wu , “GRAPHENE THIN FILM PRESSURE SENSOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF” , Invention Patent , 2025, Taiwan (R.O.C.), I874067 (2025.2) .
5. Tung-Sheng Tsai, Guan-Ming Chen, Wu-Yee Wen , “ULTRA-BROAD BAND PHOTODETECTOR WITH DOUBLE METAL-SEMICONDUCTOR-METAL STRUCTURES” , Invention Patent , 2024, Taiwan (R.O.C.), I850980 (2024.8) .
6. Tung-Sheng Tsai, Guan-Ming Chen, Wu-Yee Wen , “ULTRA-BROAD BAND PHOTODETECTOR WITH DOUBLE METAL-SEMICONDUCTOR-METAL STRUCTURES MANUFACTURING METHOD” , Invention Patent , 2023, Taiwan (R.O.C.) , I814183 (2023.7) .
7. Tung-Sheng Tsai, Wu-Yee Wen, Bing-You Jiang , “METHOD FOR PREPARING GRAPHENE FILM ON INSULATING SUBSTRATE” , Invention Patent , 2022, Taiwan (R.O.C.) , I762205 (2022.4) .
8. Wen-Sheng Su, Jing-Xue Qiu, Yao-Rong Tang, Qi-Feng Chen , “Metalens, Metalens Set, and Image Display or Decryption Method Thereof” , Invention Patent , 2026, Chinese Mainland , 2022114744774 (2026.1) .
9. Jun-Jie Xu, Shun-Gui Yang, Yu-Yao Lin, Jing-Xue Qiu , “A SOLDER STRUCTURE FOR BACK-END PACKAGING” , Invention Patent , 2024, Taiwan (R.O.C.) , I855774 (2024.9) 
10. Jing-Xue Qiu, Yu-Yao Lin, Wen-Sheng Su , “METALENS, METALENS SET AND METHOD OF IMAGE CONSTRUCTION OR DECRYPTION THEREOF” , Invention Patent , 2023, Taiwan (R.O.C.) , I796888 (2023.3) .

1. Wafer Works Corp.
2. MPI Corporation.
3. Fujian Fujian-Taiwan Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Smart Health Systems and Biochip Development.