Building bridges to the Far East
HSZG strengthens international partnerships and semiconductor expertise in Taiwan
In January 2026, the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) took part in a trip to Taiwan as part of a Saxon delegation. Led by Members of the Bundestag Carsten Körber and Florian Oest, Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch traveled to Asia to advance the university’s international networking efforts. The focus was on academic exchange regarding future technologies and the establishment of new collaborations in research and teaching.
The trip brought together representatives from politics, business, and academia to identify points of connection between Saxony’s higher education landscape and the dynamic economic region of Taiwan. The program included, among other things, meetings at the German Institute in Taipei, the German Economic Office, and the National Science and Technology Council, where current developments in research funding and technology were discussed.
Focus on semiconductor expertise and new degree programs
A central theme of the trip was the transformation toward a knowledge- and technology-driven semiconductor industry. Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kratzsch took advantage of the visit to the renowned National Taipei University of Technology (Taipei Tech)to present the HSZG and, in particular, the university’s two new semiconductor degree programmes (Semiconductor Processes and Materials Chemistry | Mechatronics for Manufacturing).
Rector Kratzsch gave a positive assessment of the discussions at Taipei Tech:
The exchange was extremely insightful and opened up many concrete points of contact for future cooperation.
”To expand this network island-wide, the delegation subsequently held talks with universities in southern Taiwan, including the National Sun Yat-sen University and National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology.
Attracting international talent
In addition to research, recruiting prospective students was also on the agenda. As part of a visit by the German Section of the Taipei European School , university representatives provided information about practice-oriented degree programs and educational pathways in Germany. The students showed great interest in the Free State of Saxony. As a concrete outcome, it was agreed that HSZG would present itself in detail to the students in a digital format in the future.
The delegation’s visit received widespread media coverage locally, underscoring the interest in Saxony’s scientific community. A total of 21 Taiwanese media outlets reported on the visit and the deepened cooperation, including:
Impulses for the strategic orientation
For HSZG, the trip provides an important foundation for further developing existing partnerships and establishing new collaborations. Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch summarizes the significance of the trip:
International partnerships are not created on paper alone. The talks in Taiwan have shown how important direct dialog is for mutual understanding and for the development of sustainable cooperation in research and teaching.
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Local support: The Saxon liaison office
Support provided by the Saxon Science Liaison Office Taiwan highlighted the close ties among Saxon stakeholders on the ground. The office, headed by Dr. Josef Goldberger, is based at the German Trade Office in Taipei and serves as the central hub for scientific exchange between Saxony and Taiwan.
On behalf of all Saxon universities, it coordinates, among other things, the Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program (STIPT). This program enables students from Saxony to participate in academic stays at Taiwanese partner universities as well as practical study phases at the global market leader TSMC, which makes a direct contribution to the development of skilled workers for Saxony as a high-tech hub.
The HSZG's involvement in the Asian region and in the semiconductor industry follows a long-term strategy. Further information on previous milestones and projects can be found here:
Partner of the semiconductor industry: Overview of the HSZG's strategic orientation in research and transfer to strengthen Saxony as a high-tech location. Learn more
Bridges to Asia: Review of the delegation trip to Taiwan, Japan and Singapore in November 2025 to open up new opportunities for Saxony. Read the article
International Business Conference: Review of the Conference 2025, which focused on global cooperation in the semiconductor industry. To the article
Cultural exchange on site: Report on the "Taiwan Day" at the HSZG, which offered students and citizens cultural and scientific insights. To the article
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