In support of the national vision of establishing Taiwan as a “Technology Island for Herbal Medicine,” National Chiayi University (NCYU) and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic exchange and collaboration on June 14. Through this strategic partnership, NCYU will contribute its strengths in medicinal plant cultivation and agri-food innovation, while NYCU will provide its expertise in smart healthcare and clinical validation. Centered on the integrated development of traditional Chinese medicine, the collaboration will serve as a key blueprint for future cooperation. Drawing on the expertise of both universities, the partnership aims to establish a comprehensive traditional Chinese medicine value chain spanning germplasm conservation, smart cultivation, and clinical applications.
On the eve of the signing ceremony, a joint research team led by Prof. Wen-Liang Chen of NYCU, Prof. Cheng-Nan Chen of NCYU’s Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, and Associate Prof. Ming-Ru Lin of the Department of Physical Education, Health & Recreation won six gold medals and two special awards at the 40th World Genius Convention & Education Expo, Japan 2026. The team successfully developed high-purity herbal exosome nanovesicles for applications in long-term skin care, post-aesthetic-treatment recovery, and pet skin repair, laying a solid foundation for deeper collaboration between the two institutions. During the exchange meeting, scholars from both universities shared interdisciplinary research achievements in traditional Chinese medicine, ranging from herbal cultivation and biostimulants to anticancer mechanisms, demonstrating strong research capabilities and academic excellence.
Under the collaborative framework, NCYU will leverage its strengths in agriculture and regional industrial networks by taking responsibility for elite cultivar breeding, the establishment, collection, and conservation of medicinal herb germplasm resources, and cultivation research across diverse geographic environments at high, medium, and low elevations. The university will also introduce smart agriculture technologies to ensure consistent medicinal herb quality and conduct ingredient extraction and analysis, thereby strengthening connections with the herbal medicine industry throughout the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan region. With its strong foundation in medicine, basic sciences, and technological integration, NYCU will advance research on herb-drug interactions, clinical trials, big data analytics, and smart healthcare while supporting the development of related regulations and institutional frameworks.
NCYU President Han-Chien Lin noted that the university has actively expanded into medical and pharmaceutical fields in recent years as part of its goal to establish its eighth college, the College of Medicine. NCYU has already launched a Master’s Program in Integrative Chinese and Western Medical Sciences, steadily building its teaching and research capacity. NCYU’s College of Life Sciences and College of Agriculture have long been engaged in the cultivation, application, and extraction of medicinal herbs, achieving notable progress particularly in green extraction technologies and laying a strong foundation for future development. Collaboration with NYCU will facilitate the integration of research and clinical resources and accelerate the development of traditional Chinese medicine.
In academic year 2024–2025, NYCU established its School of Chinese Medicine, the first of its kind among national universities in Taiwan. The School is dedicated to cultivating "New Chinese Medicine" professionals equipped with the mindset of scientists and engineers. By integrating molecular medicine, brain science, and artificial intelligence technologies, it seeks to provide scientific interpretations of traditional medicine. NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin emphasized that high-quality, standardized medicinal herbs are key to clinical validation and new drug development. The collaboration is expected to deepen academic exchanges and establish an interdisciplinary medical education platform. It will also promote precision health and high-value development in the traditional Chinese medicine industry, strengthening Taiwan’s ties with the global traditional Chinese medicine community.
Through this agreement, both institutions hope not only to expand faculty and academic resource sharing but also to cultivate interdisciplinary leaders with expertise in cultivation, pharmacology, and clinical practice. From the fertile soils of the Chianan Plain to the consultation rooms of major medical centers, NCYU and NYCU will work together to promote precision health and high-value development in the traditional Chinese medicine industry. The partnership will enhance Taiwan’s competitiveness in the global natural health products market and contribute to the development of a national-level traditional Chinese medicine research and application system.
Photo 1: NCYU and NYCU sign an MOU on academic
exchange and collaboration, opening a new chapter in inter-university
cooperation.
Photo 2: NCYU and NYCU hold a collaborative exchange meeting to discuss plans for future collaboration.