Industrial Technology Research Institute


The Industrial Technology Research Institute is a technology research and development institution in Taiwan. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan's industries from labor-intensive into innovation-driven. It focuses on the fields of Smart Living, Quality Health, and Sustainable Environment. Over the years, ITRI has incubated over 270 companies. In addition to its headquarters in Hsinchu City, Taiwan, ITRI has branch offices in the U.S., Europe, and Japan in an effort to extend its R&D scope and promote opportunities for international cooperation around the world.

History

Since its founding in 1973 ITRI has been a significant driver of Taiwan's economy, especially its tech industry.
In 2019 ITRI banned all smartphones and computers made by China's Huawei from their internal network for security reasons. China's Taiwan Affairs Office reacted negatively to the decision with their spokesperson saying that the decision “jeopardizes the mainland and Taiwan’s regular economic cooperation for political purposes."

Timeline

1973: Founding of ITRI.
1976: Transferring of IC manufacturing processes to Taiwan.
1977: Establishment of the first IC demonstration foundry in Taiwan, the foundation of the nation's semiconductor industry.
1980: Origination of UMC, a spinoff of ITRI.
1983: Development of IBM-compatible PC leading to prosperity of the IT industry.
1985: Innovating carbon fiber bicycles with Giant Bicycles.
1986: Unveiling photoresist dry film.
1987: Creation of TSMC, the world's largest OEM IC foundry, a spinoff of ITRI.
1987: Establishment of National Measurement Laboratory.
1989: Creation of Mirle Automation Corp., a spinoff of ITRI.
1990: Establishment of Taiwan Notebook PC Consortium.
1990: Development of 3-inch TFT-LCD displays, a breakthrough in large size display R&D.
1991: Introduction of Taiwan's first Fire & Explosion Laboratory.
1993: Establishment of an 8-inch wafer laboratory, an accelerated upgrading of the semiconductor industry.
1993: Commencement of the manufacturing of 8-inch silicon wafers, securing Taiwan's place as a semiconductor manufacturing powerhouse.
1995: Development of the first common car engine and establishment of the automobile engine enterprise CEC.
1995: Becoming the world's third-largest wire cutting machine producer.
1995: Breaking through the barrier for Taiwan's CD-ROM industry.
1996: Establishment of Epistar Corp. to complete the supply chain for the LED industry.
1996: Launching the OpenLab Project.
1997: Innovation of first inkjet printing head in Taiwan.
1999: Establishment of an emergency response information center.
2001: Development of the first linear motor machine tool in Taiwan.
2002: Institution of Phalanx Biotech Group, a spinoff of ITRI.
2002: Discovery of Type 21 Human Collagen.
2002: Introduction of cGMP Chinese Herbal Medicinal Plant.
2004: Establishment of DelSolar Co., a joint venture of Delta Electronics and ITRI.
2005: Establishment of ITRI Southern Region Campus.
2007: Opening of Taiwan's first flexible display production and development laboratory.
2008: Building the first WiMAX Applications Lab in the world.
2009: Introduction of the world's first USB 3.0 thin memory card.
2009: Setting up the first solar power lab in Taiwan.
2010: Designing the pavilion of dreams at Taipei International Flora Exposition by the integration of applied sciences and arts with a focus on humanism.
2010: Establishing Asia's first three-dimensional integrated circuit R&D Laboratory, a new milestone for Taiwan's IC chip technology.
2011: Launch of a new venture capital by Industrial Technology Investment Corporation and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital.
2011: Initiating the Green Campus program and promoting a sustainable living lab for green technologies.
2011: Building Taiwan's first LED ergonomic lighting laboratory to assist the LED industry in developing high-value products.
2012: Signing an MOU with Energy Research Center of the Netherlands to develop green energy applications.
2012: Signing an MOU with KOSBI, Korea for the promotion of bilateral SMEs economic development.
2012: Establishing the Commercialization Advisory Committee to promote venture capitals and startups.
2013: Signing the Memorandum of Cooperation Pact with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, marking the first step in innovation-oriented R&D cooperation between Taiwan and Finland.
2013: Creation of ITRI TechVenture Club to foster entrepreneurship in Taiwan's high-tech industries.
2013: Building ITRI Central Taiwan Innovation Campus to drive the industrial development in central Taiwan.
2014: Partnership of laser source companies from Taiwan and Japan through Golden Asia Fund Ventures.
2014: Granting Taiwan Mitsui Chemicals exclusive license to manufacture and sell STOBA.
2015: Launching the new Machine Tools Technology Center to forge CNC industry clusters.
2015: Formulation of the Taiwan Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center in Silicon Valley, linking Taiwan's startups to the global chain of technology innovations.
2015: Receiving the Underwriters Laboratories Witness Test Data Program Certification, ensuring ITRI's Fuel Cell Testing Lab as Asia's first UL-certified lab.
2015: Creation of the Smart Microsystems Technology Center and the Laser and Additive Manufacturing Technology Center to bolster IoT and 3D printing.
2016: Launch of the Golden Asia Fund II by the Industrial Technology Investment Corporation of ITRI and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital to enhance bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Japan.
2016: Inauguration of the Innovation Campus to strengthen academia-industry ties.
2017: Launch of ITRI-AIST R&D Collaboration Space.
2017: Opening of ITRI GuangFu Innovation Campus.
2018: Establishment of Taiwan-Merck Biopharma R&D & Training Collaboration Program at ITRI GuangFu Innovation Campus.
2018: Signing an MOU with Malaysian Investment Development Authority to build an industrial technology demonstration site in Malaysia.
2018: Establishment of the Industry, Science and Technology International Strategy Center.

Innovations and applications

Self driving cars

As of 2019 self driving cars designed by ITRI had accumulated more than 2,000 km of testing in the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park.

StarFab

StarFab is a tech accelerator founded by ITRI focusing on innovation in the fields of smart manufacturing, smart medical care, smart finance and smart agriculture. It is headquartered in Taipei with an office in the Tainan Science Park.

Focus centers

Honors

See
for more information.

ITRI Laureates

In order to recognize outstanding individuals for their contributions to technology advancement, industrial development, and betterment of humankind, ITRI inaugurated the honorary ITRI Laureates.

Publication

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