Industry-Academia Cooperation for a Changing World:
Grand Opening of the Delta & NCU Cooperative Robot Technology Center

On July 31st, Taiwan's National Central University (NCU) and Delta, a global leader in power, thermal management and industrial automation, announced the establishment of the Cooperative Robot Technology Center. At the center's unveiling ceremony, NCU‘s President Dr. Jing Yang Jou and Delta IABG General Manager Andy Liu signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Delta's industrial automation integrates self-developed industrial robots, machine vision systems, and a full-range of smart manufacturing solutions based on smart manufacturing systems to actively assist industries in digitalization and transformation. This industry-academia cooperation will provide a focal point for educational robotics studies and practices, and cultivate talent in the field of robotics for smart automation in Taiwan.

NCU President Dr. Jing Yang Jou stated that NCU is the first to cooperate with Delta, and the center will be at the forefront of upgrading industry. It combines quality education and research with Delta's rich R&D capabilities, expansive experience in manufacturing and practical achievements in diverse industries. Currently, two elective courses, “Principles and Applications of Industrial Robots” and “Robot Sensing and Integration with Peripherals”, offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering are very popular among students. NCU regards innovation as the future goal to link up with industries.

Delta IABG General Manager Andy Liu said that NCU has long been committed to industry-academia cooperation and cultivating talents and has made a large investment in manpower and resources for smart manufacturing courses. With 25 years devoted to industrial automation, Delta is an excellent manufacturer with comprehensive products, services and mature technology. Having outstanding talent is a crucial driver that motivates a company's growth. Over the past few years, Delta has invested in various industry-academia cooperative projects with well-known universities and colleges in Taiwan and abroad, by means of cooperative research, development and equipment donation to cultivate talent. In addition to donating related products for the Cooperative Robot Technology Center, Delta assists professors in planning courses, using its experience in robotics development and applications to teach students the theory and practice of robotics. Delta also plans to issue academic certificates in the future to increase the employment advantages of the students.

In 2011, NCU and Delta established a cooperative research center, focusing on power electronics, optoelectronic imaging and display, electric vehicles, and related technologies. In response to transformation and upgrade of industries in recent years and the demands for new talent in smart robotics, NCU and Delta have established the Machine Vision Research Center and the Cooperative Robot Technology Center for automation and smart manufacturing.

Since the debut of its AC servo drive in 1995, Delta has continued its dedication to industrial automation, developing industry-specific software and hardware solutions to improve quality, reliability, and accuracy for industries. With the integration of Artificial Intelligent (AI) and big data analytics, Delta also provides overall solutions for smart manufacturing. In addition, Delta cooperates with more than 64 schools in Asia and Europe to develop innovative industrial automation technologies, and spares no effort cultivating talent.


NCU has refurbished about 150 square meters of laboratory space for the Cooperative Robot Technology Center, which cost nearly 10 million dollars. The budget came from the Ministry of Education's subsidies for two projects: the Higher Education Sprout Project, and the New Engineering Education Method Experiment & Construction, and included funding from the NCU's Engineering College and Mechanical Engineering Department. Delta's Articulated Robot DRV70 Series, Machine Vision System DMV2000, Robotic Simulation Platform DRASimuCAD and smart sensors were integrated to build six robotic workstations for robotics education and research for the university.

The Cooperative Robot Technology Center offers practical operation and demonstrations for cross-disciplinary courses, graduate theses, independent studies and student self-learning. It can also be used to verify industry-academia cooperative research and enhance students' practical skills and innovative application capabilities for the smart manufacturing of Industry 4.0.