Agricultural and Biotechnology Product Inspection Service Center
Since its establishment in April 2008, the Agricultural and Biotechnology Product Inspection Service Center of our university has been providing convenient, fast, and reliable pesticide residue testing services for agricultural-related products in the Yunlin area for 15 years. In response to current regulations, which require more frequent and comprehensive testing for agricultural and processed agricultural products, the Center has actively collaborated with numerous partners in the agriculture and food industries, becoming a trusted laboratory in the field.
However, pressure from the industry has been increasing in recent years, primarily focusing on three key areas:
(1) Demand for faster service;
(2) Demand for quality certification;
(3) Demand for expanded testing items.
In addition, current legislation continues to raise standards for both testing frequency and the scope of test items.
Our Inspection Center has been accredited by two major authorities: the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Taiwan Accreditation Foundation (TAF). As a dual-certified professional laboratory recognized nationwide, our testing quality and results are highly reliable.
To meet the diverse needs of Yunlin County, the Center has expanded its range of testing services and upgraded related equipment to enhance its support for local agriculture and food processing industries. In addition to our existing pesticide residue certifications, we have also obtained certifications for mycotoxins, heavy metals in grains, and inorganic arsenic in food. Further certifications, such as for nutritional components and microbiological testing, are currently under development.
The Center aims to provide timely, accurate, and high-quality testing services that better meet public health and consumer needs. Our ultimate goal is to assist Yunlin residents in ensuring food safety and contribute to making Yunlin a professional, safe, and healthy agricultural county.
Cutting Research Center
To effectively integrate on-campus resources, including equipment, personnel, space (both software and hardware), and satellite facilities—such as the College of Engineering’s Integrated Mechanical Workshop, the Workforce Development Agency’s Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Training Center at NFU, the Intelligent Machinery and Smart Manufacturing Research Center, and the Aerospace Intelligent Processing Training Base—the Cutting Research Center was established to build a platform for technological integration. The Center is equipped with comprehensive facilities for basic machining, CNC machining, computer-aided multi-axis machining, and mill-turn complex machining. In terms of software applications, it utilizes tools such as NX, CATIA, and PowerMill. Through cross-college and interdisciplinary collaboration, the Center aims to maximize research outcomes and enhance industry-academia cooperation through integrated resources and value-added technologies.
The Center’s objectives include:
- Internal training: Enhancing students’ capabilities in independently operating CNC machines. Students are trained to carry out the entire machining process, including drawing, process planning, cutting simulation, and machine operation, enabling them to produce mechanical components independently. The Center also supports faculty and student research projects by offering contract manufacturing services for component development and process implementation.
- External collaboration: Engaging in industry-academia collaborative projects and connecting with companies to cultivate industry-ready talents. The Center plays a key role in deepening the scope and models of academic-industry partnerships.
Short-term goal: Integrate resources, technology, and talent development through a mentorship model and “High-School to University” training programs to nurture a new generation of skilled engineers.
Mid-term goal: With the construction of the Industry-Academia Internship Building at the Xingzhong Campus, the Center plans to establish a modern cutting factory equipped with advanced computer-aided machining tools and facilities to further promote on-campus student internships.
Long-term goal: Through close collaboration with industry, the Center aims to train highly skilled professionals aligned with industry needs. By establishing a complete training environment, the Center will contribute to realizing the ultimate vision of an industry-focused academy that creates a multiplier effect in talent cultivation and industrial development.
Aviation Maintenance Training Center (AMTC)
The development of any industry relies heavily on a strong and high-quality human resource foundation. In response to national policies and the growing industry demand for aviation maintenance professionals and certification-based training, NFU has established the Aviation Maintenance Training Center (AMTC) in accordance with the Civil Aeronautics Administration’s (CAA) regulation “05-02A Regulations for the Establishment of Civil Aviation Personnel Training Institutions.” The goal is to enhance the quality of aviation maintenance training in Taiwan and align it with international regulatory standards.
Concurrently, in accordance with the “Enforcement Rules of the University Act,” NFU has established a Bachelor’s Degree Program in Aviation Maintenance, enabling current NFU students to apply for transfer into the program.
The development goal and positioning of this degree program are to provide students from relevant departments with access to formal aviation maintenance training that meets international civil aviation certification standards. This helps broaden their professional knowledge and global outlook, enhances their technical capabilities, and qualifies them to take the national certification examination for civil aviation maintenance engineers. The program is designed to better prepare determined students for their future careers in the aviation maintenance industry.
A key feature of the program is its “Degree + Certification” model. The curriculum is designed to simultaneously satisfy the Ministry of Education’s requirements for a bachelor’s degree and the CAA’s standards for aviation maintenance training and certification. Students enrolled in this four-year program will, upon graduation, not only earn a bachelor’s degree but also become eligible to take the certification exam for “Aircraft Maintenance Engineer” administered by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Civil Aeronautics Administration.
According to future plans by the CAA, AMTC may even be authorized to conduct the certification exam itself. As a result, graduates of this program who obtain the “Aircraft Maintenance Engineer” certification upon graduation will gain a 4 to 6-year competitive advantage over peers pursuing similar careers through traditional routes.
Center for Agricultural Research and Extension
The Center for Agricultural Research and Extension implements the University Social Responsibility (USR) Program, with the goal of strengthening local agricultural services and promoting industry-academia collaboration in agricultural technology. It aims to support the development needs of agricultural enterprises. Building on over a decade of cooperation between National Formosa University (NFU) and the Yunlin County Government through the “Farmers’ University” initiative, the program was upgraded to “Farmers’ University 2.0” in October 2020. This new phase continues to embody the USR spirit, leveraging a long-cultivated team of agricultural mentors and regional agricultural education platforms.
Through consensus meetings and industry-academia forums, the center links agricultural enterprises, educational institutions, and public sectors to form a collaborative network and advisory team. In partnership with experienced local farmers and institutions, the center provides technical, marketing, and management services tailored to industry needs. These efforts inject educational energy and industrial guidance to drive the transformation and upgrading of Yunlin’s local agriculture. The center also supports the development of innovative business models and serves as a platform that integrates communities, students, farmers, and businesses, establishing Yunlin as a premier site for agricultural education in Taiwan.
Key areas of development and services include:
A. Development and Services of Agricultural Testing Technology
Development of user-friendly and rapid pesticide testing instruments (hardware and software), as well as handheld chlorophyll meters, integrated with related industry services.
B. Farm Management Diagnosis
Through farm operation diagnostics, the center empowers farms in areas such as marketing, finance, human resources, R&D, and IT, and guides innovative business model development.
C. Production Management Guidance
Provides support in cultivation techniques involving crop physiology, soil, and pest control. On the quality side, it promotes production management via certification, audits, and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
D. Promotion and Support of Circular Agriculture
In the pursuit of sustainable agriculture, the center adopts an intelligent and rational approach that surpasses traditional concepts of reduction, recycling, and reuse—fostering a new model for circular agriculture that addresses economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
E. Innovation in Agricultural Business Models
Infusing the agricultural industry with innovation and creativity, the center supports agricultural startups and scales them into social enterprises.
F. Agricultural Education and Outreach
Through NFU’s Department of Agricultural Technology, the center integrates agriculture with engineering and management disciplines to deliver cross-disciplinary education. In addition to technical training, it establishes dual-track guidance mechanisms to cultivate next-generation agricultural talent. It promotes food and farming education in elementary schools, collaborates with junior high schools on technical training classes, and supports vocational high schools with advanced education and career exploration. In line with the Ministry of Education’s Industry-Academia Collaboration Program, it builds a long-term “3×3+4” talent cultivation plan in agriculture.
G. Micro-scale Industry-Academia Collaboration Projects
Encourages mission-based learning (MBL) where agricultural mentors and students co-develop research ideas to enhance agriculture-related production, management, and marketing.
H. Enhancing Farmers’ Creativity
Establishes a Rural Makerspace, applying the university’s engineering and mechanical expertise to offer courses, access to equipment, and hands-on experience that empowers farmers in creative problem-solving for agricultural applications.
I. Promotion of Friendly and Safe Agriculture
In cooperation with local “Friendly Farming Promotion Groups,” the center implements the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), allowing consumers, producers, and stakeholders to engage in the production process and build community ties, fostering sustainable environmental and agricultural practices.
J. Promotion of Group-Based Organic Cultivation
The center has established an “Organic Group Cultivation Zone” to offer large-scale organic farming areas. Seasoned agricultural mentors guide new farmers and students in organic practices, creating a base for students interested in launching agricultural ventures after graduation.
Center for MEMS Design and Application Research
The Center for MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) Design and Application Research integrates internal and external resources in MEMS-related science and applications. By consolidating the center’s existing fabrication and analysis equipment, it aims to strengthen academia-industry collaboration and enhance the research and development of micro-device design and application technologies.
The center’s main initiatives include:
(1) Planning and Promoting Industry-Academia Cooperation and Research Projects
By actively implementing research projects, the center transfers research outcomes to industry, thereby facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia and the private sector.
(2) Training R&D Talent in the Field of MEMS Systems
The center establishes specialized MEMS technology courses, develops and maintains advanced laboratories and program websites, and hosts expert seminars to disseminate academic achievements and nurture skilled professionals.
(3) Integration and Sharing of Resources
Equipment and teaching materials are consolidated into shared laboratories, which are made available to faculty, students, and researchers interested in MEMS-related development.
(4) Promoting Mechatronic Integration and Creative Engineering Education
The center integrates current innovative teaching curricula and facilities, extending their application into the MEMS domain to promote hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.
(5) Fostering Collaboration with the Central Taiwan Science Park, Local Medical Institutions, and Nationwide Industry-Academia Networks
By actively engaging with domestic and international institutions, the center enhances Taiwan’s capabilities in MEMS R&D and strengthens Central Taiwan Science Park’s innovation ecosystem.
As the integration of mechanical, optical, and electronic technologies continues to expand, MEMS has become a critical technology in intelligent machinery, biomedical applications, and the electrical engineering industry. The center maintains strong collaborations with industry leaders and institutions, including HIWIN Technologies Corp., Chuan Bao Industrial Co., National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, China Medical University Taichung, and leading international research institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IIS) and the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Key collaborative R&D outcomes include smart monitoring devices, high value-added mechanical components and machines, homecare technologies, and assistive devices for chronic disease monitoring. Faculty at the center have recently received prestigious accolades such as the Outstanding Engineering Professor Award from the Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Outstanding Engineering Educator Award from the Chinese Institute of Engineers, multiple Best Paper Awards at international conferences, and numerous national and international invention and innovation awards.
The center’s innovations have earned honors such as the National Academia-Industry Master Award and the National Innovation Award. Through international collaboration, the center continues to shine globally, while remaining grounded in local R&D excellence.
