Technologies Create New Opportunities Marching toward Sustainable Future

　Far Eastern Group started its establishment by producing people’s livelihood in textile, after more than 70 years of innovative operations, it has now developed into a comprehensive conglomerate comprising various industries in food, clothing, residence, transport, education, and recreation. Reflecting upon the development history of the Far Eastern Group, the innovative mindset and the application of new technologies are driven to push for more growth, which is also the “Innovation DNA” passed from our founder Y. Z. Hsu to every Far Easterner.

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　To commemorate founder Y. Z. Hsu’s long dedication to promoting industrial innovation and various philanthropic contributions, the Far Eastern Group subsidiaries established in 2001 “Far Eastern Y. Z. Hsu Science & Technology Memorial Foundation.” Differentiated from the then commonly seen cultural & educational non-profit foundations and committed to foster “technological innovation,” it was the first private foundation supervised by the National Science Council of the Executive Yuan with the aim to promote scientific developments, top talent developments and industrial-academic collaborations, bring a more convenient and better life for the general public through advancement of science and technology.

　The Foundation holds each year the “Y. Z. Hsu Science Award” to encourage six emerging key technologies including nanotechnology, ICT, optoelectronics, bio-medical, green technology, and artificial intelligence. To ensure fair and rigorous evaluation, prominent scholars from different fields were enlisted to serve as Jurors among which many are Academicians of Academia Sinica, presidents of universities, and leaders of research institutions. Through panel discussion, evaluation of outside experts, to cast votes on winners of each category. With long-term efforts, “Y. Z. Hsu Science Award” has gained prestige and recognition in various fields and turned into a remarkable honor for scientists and researchers.

　Scientific research must go through long period of accumulation to be able to achieve innovative breakthroughs. Therefore, scientists need resources and encouragement from each field to support their relentless advancements. “Y. Z. Hsu Science Award” engages in six emerging technological categories, hopes to light up the flame of technology, and boost people’s attention and support of science & technology developments. During the past 21 years, total 467 awards were presented amounting to NTD190 million. Each year when organizing the Award Ceremony, the Foundation particularly invites research partners, families, and friends of the recipients to jointly share their joy and honor. On the stage, winners often express their sincere gratitude for the support of their families, which has become the warmest touching moment of the ceremony.

 

Downward Rooting the Seeds of Technology    Cultivating Future Stars

　In addition to scientific research, the Foundation had been reaching out to senior high school students by sponsoring jointly with the Department of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University for 15 consecutive years the “Y. Z. Hsu Cup – Taiwan Young Physicists’ Tournament,” following the competition format of International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT), enabling the students to engage in English debates on physics-related topics to train their foreign language capability, logical thinking, scientific experiment design, and team work. The Foundation paid in full to support outstanding students teaming up to represent Taiwan and participate in IYPT contests abroad. They have been registering excellent performances, won Gold Medal of IYPT in 2016, and Bronze Medal this year. More importantly, these Taiwanese high school students are inspired to expand their global vision and connect Taiwan’s science education with the world. In recent years, the Foundation has also sponsored “Y. Z. Hsu Innovation Forum” by inviting previous winners of Y. Z. Hsu Science Award to engage in exchanges and dialogues with the young generation, share their learning processes and new scientific knowledge, which are well received by top senior high schools of each country and city, and currently have been co-sponsoring such events with Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, Taipei First Girls’ High School, and National Experimental High School at Hsinchu Science Park, hopefully to assist the new generation youths cultivate their interest in exploring science, and imaging the look of future world.

 

Embrace the Wave of Science & Technology    Create Sustainable Life

　With rapid developments of various technologies in recent years and driven by the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), 5G telecommunications, biotechnology, they not only affected the world’s national policies, but also profoundly disrupted people’s lifestyle and industry deployment. AI will lead revolutions in the production, manufacturing, and service industries, pushing for more intelligent production and service processes and high efficiency.  5G communications will expedite the advancement of IoT, strengthen the interaction between human and machine, further promote innovation in the fields of smart city, smart transportation. Furthermore, biotechnology will play an important role in health care and agricultural production, thus provide new solutions for the challenging disease, food problems faced by mankind.

　Taiwan is an important base of technological productions for the world, being situated at the core of this wave of science and technology, it must remain competitive and enhance innovative capability. Innovation not only refers to breakthroughs in skills, but also involves innovations in business model, production design, etc. Also, should take into consideration environmental and social responsibilities. Take business operations for example, sustainable measures to promote green production, energy conservation, and carbon reduction not only help environmental sustainability, but can also create longer-term value for the enterprise.

　The development of science and technology requires the support from top talents. The development of talents requires long-term investment and patience. Therefore, Y. Z. Hsu Science and Technology Memorial Foundation would like to initiate by sponsoring “Y. Z. Hsu Science Award,” and also hopes to promote collaboration among government, academia, and the industries, to establish a more comprehensive talent development system, and attract outstanding professionals to engage in the science and technology field.

　Given the continuous challenges with rapid changes in the world, restructuring of global industrial chain, climate change, aging era, etc., the Far Eastern Group is committed to support philanthropic endeavors, keeping the scientific innovation spirit, and hopes to collaborate with the public to embrace a sustainable future.

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