U of I System, University Academic Alliance in Taiwan launch joint R&D teams
The University of Illinois System and the University Academic Alliance in Taiwan recently awarded $1.2 million in funding to eight new interdisciplinary research teams that will drive innovations and advance collaboration between the universities. Selected from 52 applications, these are the first awards from an institutional partnership launched in 2023.
Building on talent, innovations and resources from the two universities, the initiative seeks to accelerate economic development through the development of innovative technologies. Funding for the program comes from UAAT`s Secretariat and the U of I System’s Office of the Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation.
The newly funded seed grant projects will focus on:
- advanced materials and circuits for AI and future computing,
- building a Taiwan-to-Illinois pipeline for nonlinear and quantum photonics,
- AI-powered optical imaging for chronic disease prognosis,
- using AI to assess social and environmental health outcomes,
- creating digital twins for personalized immunotherapy,
- developing a digital twin framework for smart additive manufacturing,
- innovative aeration strategies for urban wastewater treatment,
- and sustainable electrochemical remediation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for industrial and environmental applications.