National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), the Ministry of Environment (MOENV), and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on September 26, 2025, to establish a Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Research and Development Demonstration Center.
The MOU was formally signed by representatives of the three parties, namely, Minister of Environment Chi-ming Peng, NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang, and Director-General Lao-Tar Juang of the MOA’s Department of Resources Sustainability.
This cross-agency collaboration is a direct response to Taiwan’s 2050 Net-Zero Transition Policy, aiming for agricultural sustainability, climate change mitigation, and circular economies. The future Demonstration Center will utilize appropriate Green Technology to convert livestock manure and wastewater into valuable resources, maximizing the sustainable use of biomass and creating lasting environmental and economic benefits.
PARTNERSHIP GOALS
Minister of Environment Chi-ming Peng highlighted the importance of this inter-ministerial cooperation. He expressed the hope that the center would leverage the parties’ expertise in agriculture to lead by example, integrating academic research with practical application and, most importantly, local education. He anticipates that this three-way partnership will significantly boost industrial training in the Pingtung area.
NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang stated that the signing of the MOU with the MOENV and the MOA is a crucial step forward for industry, government, academia, and research institutions in working together toward Taiwan’s agricultural net-zero transition and its development of circular economies. As an institution founded on agriculture, NPUST has broad expertise in smart agriculture, green energy, and environmental sustainability. The new center will serve as an innovative platform for research, demonstration, and outreach by bringing together technological development and educational practices.
Director-General Lao-Tar Juang of the MOA’s Department of Resources Sustainability noted that circular agriculture is one of the MOA’s four core strategies for achieving net-zero emissions. He emphasized that this collaboration will initially focus on optimizing and improving the efficiency of biomass energy (bioenergy), starting at NPUST before being expanded to other industrial sectors.
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE DEMONSTRATION CENTER
The “Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Research and Development Demonstration Center” will be located on the NPUST campus and will operate under a model involving industry, government, academia, and research institutions:
- Industry will provide market demand insights.
- Government agencies will offer policy guidance.
- Educational institutions will support talent development and provide the operational venue.
- Research institutions will contribute technical research and development.
NPUST will further support the center by engaging academic units, including the College of Engineering, College of Management, College of Agriculture, and College of Veterinary Medicine, in cross-disciplinary project development, the cultivation of “green-collar” talent, and environmental education.
As the only university in the nation focused on tropical agriculture, NPUST’s core strategy is to advance smart technology and sustainable agriculture. With its innovative, advanced digital and intelligent facilities, the “Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Research and Development Demonstration Center” is expected to become a vital base for Taiwan’s move toward zero-waste and low-carbon goals and its continuous effort to revitalize local capabilities and drive sustainable regional development.
