Overseas professionals boost strategic industries in Taiwan

2022/07/18

Entrepreneurs and professionals from around the world flocking to Taiwan to pursue careers are giving a boost to the government’s six core strategic industries initiative unveiled in 2020, which targets sectors ranging from information and digital technology to green and renewable energy.

Case in point is Mark Peterman, who is making his mark with his multilayer foam inserts used to replace traditional air-filled inner tubes in bicycle tires. According to the U.S. native, the invention is disruptive, and no other airless tires are as effective in performance.

Taiwan’s educated and motivated work force and abundant high-tech resources were major incentives for Peterman to set up shop in the country, he said, adding that he founded Air Fom in the central city of Taichung in 2018. The company subsequently won a 2020 Edison Awards gold medal in the personal mobility subcategory.

Air Fom has successfully marketed its star product to bike share operators in Europe and built a reputation internationally as a pioneer in green transport. Though the foam inserts have yet to enter the domestic market, Peterman uses every opportunity to promote the innovative bike component in Taiwan.

Energy is the major concern of Ali Sadeghianjahromi, who has been working as a postdoctoral researcher since 2019 at a lab in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu City.

The Iranian national’s research includes projects commissioned by companies such as Kaori Heat Treatment Co. and Taiwan SRP Heat Exchanger Inc., two industry leaders in Taiwan dedicated to developing thermal products, placing Sadeghianjahromi at the forefront of the country’s technological growth. “Private enterprises can improve products by working with academia, resulting in creative solutions in the most recent research and patents,” he said.

Director of the lab Wang Chi-chuan stressed that overseas postdoctoral researchers are important for the unit, as local students are showing less interest in seeking doctoral degrees in recent years.

Meanwhile, Ang Ai-tee from Malaysia is contributing to Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing sector, a major pillar of the country’s economy. The engineer worked at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. for six years from 2012, during which time she patented five solutions to improve chip packaging procedure that she developed both solo and with a team.

Currently Ang works for the Hsinchu branch of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., an American multinational fabless semiconductor company, where she designs high-end packaging for chips. TSMC is contracted to manufacture the packaging, with the two industry giants cooperating closely thanks in part to engineers like Ang.

Like many other overseas professionals in Taiwan, the young woman has decided to put down roots, citing the satisfying living environment featuring diverse outdoor activities and convenient health care services. “I’m very happy with my life here,” she said. “I intend to live here for a long time.”


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)