HSZG strengthens international partnerships and semiconductor expertise in Taiwan
In January 2026, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) took part in a trip to Taiwan as part of a Saxon delegation. Under the leadership of members of the Bundestag Carsten Körber and Florian Oest, Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch traveled to Asia to promote the university's international networking. The focus was on scientific exchange on future technologies and the initiation of new collaborations in research and teaching.
The trip brought together representatives from politics, business and science to identify points of contact between the Saxon university landscape and the dynamic economic region of Taiwan. The program included talks at the German Institute Taipei, the German Business Office and the National Science and Technology Council, where current developments in research funding and technology were discussed.
A central theme of the trip was the transformation towards 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 introduce the HSZG and in particular the two new semiconductor degree programs(Semiconductor Processes and Materials Chemistry | Mechatronics for Manufacturing) and the university.
Rector Kratzsch drew a positive conclusion from the talks at Taipei Tech:
The exchange was extremely insightful and opened up many concrete points of contact for future cooperation.
”In order to expand this networking across the island, the delegation then also held talks with universities in southern Taiwan, including the National Sun Yat-sen University and the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology.
In addition to research, attracting prospective students was also on the agenda. As part of a visit by the German section of the Taipei European School the university representatives provided information on practical courses of study and educational pathways in Germany. The students showed great interest in the Free State of Saxony. As a concrete result, it was agreed that the HSZG would present itself to the pupils in detail in a digital format in future.
The delegation trip met with a broad media response locally, which illustrates the interest in Saxony's scientific landscape. A total of 21 Taiwanese media outlets reported on the visit and the intensified cooperation, including
For the HSZG, the trip provides an important basis for further developing existing partnerships and establishing new collaborations. Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch sums up 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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The support of the Saxon Science Liaison Office Taiwan underlined the close links between the Saxon players on site. The office, headed by Dr. Josef Goldberger, is based in the German Trade Office Taipei and acts as a central interface 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 spend academic periods at Taiwanese partner universities as well as practical phases at the global market leader TSMC, which makes a direct contribution to the development of skilled workers for Saxony as a high-tech location.
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
