⇑ Talent Exchange of New Southbound Policy
⇑ ResearchSat and National I Lan University’s Thermofluid Bio-energy Lab Sign MOU to Advance Space Life Science and Frontier Thermofluid Research
Yilan, Taiwan – September 23, 2025 — ResearchSat Pty Ltd, an Australian space technology company, and the Thermofluid Bio-energy Lab (TFBE Lab) of the Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering at National I Lan University have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking the beginning of a collaborative partnership in space life science experiments and technical consulting services.
The MOU outlines the mutual intent to cooperate, with ResearchSat providing TFBE Lab a suite of space life science services, including the operation of in-orbit biological experiments and professional technical support. This partnership not only symbolizes a fusion of research capabilities between Taiwan and Australia, but also injects new momentum into Taiwan’s development in space biotechnology.
ResearchSat, headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia, is a leading company specializing in the design and execution of life science experiments aboard microsatellite platforms. TFBE Lab, based at National I Lan University in Yilan, Taiwan, has long been dedicated to research in thermofluid and bio-energy systems. The lab possesses strong interdisciplinary engineering capabilities and academic foundations, and has recently developed Taiwan’s first microgravity simulation system, actively contributing to frontier space research.
Professor Chin-Tsan Wang, who has an aerospace engineering background and currently serves as Director of the Space Computing Technology Center (SCTC) at National I Lan University, stated:
“Through this collaboration, TFBE Lab will be able to leverage ResearchSat’s spaceflight platform to conduct unprecedented in-orbit life science experiments. We aim to explore biological reactions and energy conversion mechanisms under microgravity conditions, further enhancing Taiwan’s global competitiveness in space technology and bioengineering.”
Both parties emphasized that this collaboration is just the beginning. Future plans include deepening technical exchange, joint research initiatives, and talent cultivation, while exploring new space applications and experimental innovations. Through this MOU, ResearchSat and TFBE Lab will jointly promote the advancement of space life science research, laying a stronger scientific foundation for humanity’s exploration of the universe.
⇑ Congratulations to Professor Wang Jincan for being included in the list of "Top 2% of Global Scientists in 2024"
[Industry-Academia Collaboration] Learning from Nature: Taiwan and the Philippines Research Biomimetic Technology for Wastewater Treatment and Power Generation
（中央社記者林行健馬尼拉15日專電）在跨海相隔約1000公里的兩座實驗室裡，台灣與菲律賓的研究團隊正為同一個問題努力，即如何運用受大自然啟發的科學，同時達成處理污水和發電2個目標。
這項合作計畫聚焦以仿生創新技術提升微生物燃料電池的電性，由國立宜蘭大學與菲律賓德拉薩大學共同推動，台灣國家科學及技術委員會及菲律賓科技部支援經費。
在菲律賓，污水處理不足與高電價是許多家庭與社區每天面對的現實。微生物燃料電池正是利用天然微生物分解污水的過程產生電力，可望一舉解決這些問題。
德拉薩大學（De La Salle University）的合作實驗室位於拉古納省（Laguna）比南市（Biñan），距馬尼拉市約40公里。
德拉薩大學機械工程學系教授巫邦杜（Aristotle Ubando）告訴中央社，仿生創新是從自然界汲取靈感，再轉化為工程設計。就這項合作計畫而言，雙方希望透過仿生概念，優化燃料電池系統內部的流體流動設計，進而強化污水處理效果及提升發電效率。
巫邦杜說：「我們重新設計微生物燃料電池的反應腔室，使流體流動更順暢，為天然微生物創造更理想的工作環境。」
這項合作展現台菲科研能量的互補性，在菲律賓端，德拉薩大學團隊負責運算模擬與系統設計；在台灣端，宜蘭大學機械與機電工程學系教授王金燦領導的團隊，負責分享關鍵技術，其實驗室也將成為原型測試的基地。
巫邦杜指出，菲律賓是群島國家，國土分散，微生物燃料電池具備小型化與可移動的特性，未來有機會成為區域型水處理和分散式發電的解決方案。
菲律賓各地區對潔淨用水的需求甚大，特別是在基礎設施不足的偏遠地區，德拉薩大學團隊正評估與馬尼拉自來水公司等水務單位合作的可能性，未來將研究成果導入實際水處理場域。
對台灣而言，這項合作計畫有助於深化綠能與永續工程研發，提升學界與產業的整體技術水準。
王金燦表示，雙邊合作不僅推動科技創新，也為學生交流與國際人才培育提供平台，符合政府與產業對長期研發能量的期待。
曾被借調派駐印度代表處擔任科技組長的王金燦說，他的外派服務經驗將有助提升計畫執行成效，強化國際合作科研加值效應。
目前計畫現處於設計與原型開發階段。雙方團隊規劃第一年聚焦運算設計，第二年為設計定案與原型製作，第三年則展開產業層面的測試與應用評估。
雙方研究團隊期盼，此計畫可成為台菲學術合作轉化為公共與產業效益的具體案例，為雙邊在永續科技領域的長期合作奠定基礎。（編輯：張芷瑄）1150215