I-SHOU UNIVERSITY

With the global rise of ESG trends and international regulations, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the U.S. Clean Competition Act (CCA), carbon management and digital transformation have become vital for corporate competitiveness. How enterprises can proactively build carbon management capabilities to enhance supply chain transparency, implement low-carbon processes, and adopt green technologies has emerged as a critical challenge in business operations. On July 17, 2025, ISU, the Industrial Development Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, and SYSTEX Corporation jointly organized a forum on low-carbon transformation at ISU, bringing together representatives from industry, government, and academia to explore net-zero transition and digitalization strategies, supporting the upgrading of the metal and electromechanical industries.

The forum was jointly hosted by ISU President Guu and Vice President Shen, who welcomed distinguished guests, including Shang-Chun Chang, Senior Technical Specialist at the Industrial Development Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Kuo-Ching Chiang, Chairman of the Taiwan Fastener Trading Association, Po-Chen Tang, Deputy Division Director, and Chun-Hung Cheng, Deputy Manager at the Mechanical and Mechatronics Systems Research Laboratories of ITRI. Over 50 representatives from the business sector also joined the event, including Hung-Ming Chang, General Manager of METECK Enterprise, and Jui-Yuan Ou, Senior Director of SYSTEX Corporation. In his address, President Guu emphasized that the impacts of global climate change and emerging regulatory requirements have accelerated industry needs for carbon inventory, carbon fee mechanisms, and carbon asset management. In response to the international trend of low-carbon transparency across markets and supply chains, companies that act early will gain a competitive advantage. He added that ISU is committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing ESG in southern Taiwan and driving the practical implementation of related technologies, supporting the metal industry in its steady transition toward low-carbon operations and higher value creation.

ISU is situated near major industrial zones, including Renwu, Gangshan, Daliao, Hefa, and Linyuan, and is at the heart of Kaohsiung’s S-shaped strip of semiconductor manufacturing. This provides ISU with a strategic advantage, being closely connected to industrial supply chains and R&D clusters. By leveraging its abundant academic resources and interdisciplinary research teams, ISU has long been actively aligning with the government’s policies of digitalization and sustainability, establishing itself as a key hub in southern Taiwan for fostering industry-university collaboration and cultivating essential talent. ISU is actively taking on a pivotal role in driving ESG development and technological implementation in south Taiwan. As of the end of June this year, ISU’s ESG consulting team has received subsidies from agencies, including the Industrial Development Administration and the Bureau of Industrial Parks under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, to carry out 52 industry projects with a total value of nearly NT$40 million. These projects span diverse areas, including carbon inventory, carbon footprint, lean management, and low-carbon technology, comprising 27 cases of carbon inventory, 4 cases of carbon footprint, 10 cases of lean management, and 11 cases related to low-carbon technology and other ESG initiatives. This reflects ISU’s strong capabilities in carbon management and sustainable technology services, underscoring the university’s role in providing comprehensive support and guidance to industries.

As the era of sustainability unfolds, ISU is confident in its capabilities to accompany the metal industries of Southern Taiwan in embracing a new chapter of carbon asset management. As a pioneer in advancing low-carbon technologies and integrating digital services, ISU helps enterprises enhance their global competitiveness and achieve carbon-reduction goals, working together toward a new green economy under the vision of “Net Zero by 2050.”