NCKU Launches Center of Crystal Research: SiC Technology Breakthrough to Boost Semiconductor and Laser Competitiveness
Written by Hsu Tsu-Yueh. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
The NCKU Center of Crystal Research opening ceremony was held on the morning of February 26th at the NCKU-Delta Building.(From the left: Po-Chiao Lin, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Education; Ming-Chih Lai, Director General of the Department of Natural Sciences and Sustainable Development at the NSTC; Ming-Chi Chou, Director of the NCKU Center of Crystal Research; Yan-Kuin Su, Dean of the NCKU Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing; Wei-Cheng Lo, NCKU Secretary General; Ching-Hsiung Tsai, Vice President of Delta Electronics Group)
Taiwan has achieved another breakthrough in semiconductor materials technology with the official launch of the Center of Crystal Research at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in 2025. The opening ceremony was held on the morning of February 26th at the NCKU-Delta Building in the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP). The NCKU Center of Crystal Research is currently the only academic institution in Taiwan equipped with ultra-high temperature (above 2300°C) large-size silicon carbide (SiC) crystal growth furnaces. Moving forward, the center will collaborate with global industry partners to accelerate technology transfer and promote the application of SiC and gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) materials in semiconductors, optics, lasers, and medical fields, strengthening Taiwan’s competitiveness in the global market.
Following the opening ceremony on the March 26th, the latest progress of SiC and gallium oxide crystal technologies was demonstrated. In the afternoon, leading experts from the semiconductor, optics, medical, and laser industries gathered to discuss the future development of high-temperature crystal technology. Through the exchanges and sharing of the ideas with industrial partners, the event aimed to accelerate the practical application of these technologies, opening up a new chapter in Taiwan’s research and development of crystal technologies.
The NCKU Center of Crystal Research has long received support from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and the Ministry of Education’s. The center has successfully overcome technical barriers in high-temperature SiC crystal growth, achieving the production of large-size, high-purity SiC crystals. A demonstration of the latest SiC and gallium oxide crystal technologies was held.
The NCKU Center of Crystal Research has long received support from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education SPROUT Project. The center has successfully overcome technical barriers in high-temperature SiC crystal growth, achieving the production of large-size, high-purity SiC crystals, which serve as key materials for Taiwan’s next generation semiconductor industries. This breakthrough is expected to significantly enhance the performance of applications such as electric vehicles, 5G communications, and high-efficiency power management, helping Taiwan’s industry gain a competitive edge in the global market. At the same time, the center has also successfully grow gallium oxide. With its ultrawide bandgap properties, gallium oxide is regarded as a crucial material for next-generation high-power electronic components. Through a specially designed molten growth technique, the center’s research team has developed high-quality gallium oxide crystals. In the future, the center will collaborate with industrial partners to accelerate commercialization and drive the advancement of Taiwan’s key industries.
Professor Mitch Ming-Chi Chou, Director of the NCKU Center of Crystal Research, stated that the establishment of the center has garnered significant attention from the academic community and strong support from leading domestic and international companies. Among them, Largan Precision Group has invested tens of millions of dollars to establish state-of-the-art equipments for crystal growth and has provided additional funding to develop the growth technology of gallium oxide. This investment has expanded the scale of research by three times, further strengthening Taiwan’s leadership in global crystal technology. Additionally, Largan Precision and its subsidiary, Taiwan Applied Crystal Corp., will join the NCKU Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing and conduct research on SiC epitaxial growth. Breakthrough technological advancements are expected within the next three years.
In addition to industry-academia collaboration, the NCKU Center of Crystal Research is actively expanding its international academic influence. It has established two oversea research centers in Lithuania and Latvia, working with the local teams to develop high-power thin-disk laser (TDL) systems, achieving significant technological advancements. This technology is expected to be applied in advanced laser medical treatments, precision manufacturing, and optical communications, further strengthening Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global crystal technology fields.
The opening ceremony of the NCKU Center of Crystal Research brought together distinguished guests from industry, government, and academia, witnessing together a significant milestone in the advancement of Taiwan’s crystal research.
The opening ceremony of the NCKU Center of Crystal Research brought together distinguished guests from industry, government, and academia, witnessing together a significant milestone in the advancement of Taiwan’s crystal research. Representing NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, NCKU Secretary General Wei-Cheng Lo delivered a speech, expressing gratitude for the dedication and support from all sectors in making the center a reality. He emphasized that crystal growth technology plays a crucial role in national semiconductor development, and the future of AI. NCKU is both willing and confident in its ability to contribute to these important missions.
Ming-Chih Lai, Director General of the Department of Natural Sciences and Sustainable Development at the NSTC, delivered a speech on behalf of NSTC Minister Cheng-Wen Wu. He noted that in 2012, with the support of NSTC, National Sun Yat-sen University established the Taiwan Consortium of Emergent Crystalline Materials, (TCECM) which is the predecessor of the Center of Crystal Research. Now, with the center expanding at NCKU, it highlights the outstanding capabilities of Taiwan’s academic institutions in advanced materials and semiconductor technology. He expressed confidence on that through continuous innovation and industry-academia collaboration, the center will inisitate new possibilities and research capacity in high-end crystal materials research and application, further solidifying Taiwan’s leadership on the global stage.
Po-Chiao Lin, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Education, began his speech by congratulating NCKU on welcoming highly influential academic talent. He praised Professor Ming-Chi Chou not only for his irreplaceable contributions to academic research but also for his outstanding administrative leadership. He hopes that with the aid of Professor Chou, the research strengths of Sun Yat-sen University and NCKU could be integrated to further advance the internationalization of Taiwan’s academic achievement.
Ching-Hsiung Tsai, Vice President of Delta Electronics Group, stated that the NCKU-Delta Building was made possible by a NT$250 million donation from Delta's founder, Mr. Bruce C.H. Cheng, in 2008 to support his alma mater NCKU in establishing a research and development facility in the STSP. Now, with the inauguration of the Center of Crystal Research in this building, featuring over 660 square meters of laboratory space and cutting-edge crystal growth equipment, he expressed confidence that it will greatly contribute to the future development of Taiwan’s related industries.
Mitch Ming-Chi Chou, Director of the NCKU Center of Crystal Research, guiding the guests through the Crystal Science Museum.
Yan-Kuin Su, Dean of the NCKU Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing, stated that the establishment of the Center of Crystal Research marks a significant milestone in the NCKU’s advancements in crystal research. It also broadens NCKU’s research scope in the field of advanced materials. Additionally, the participation of Largan Precision further strengthens the network of industry partners.
Professor Ming-Chi Chou, Director of the Center of Crystal Research, has made significant achievements in crystal growth equipment and technology development over the past 20 years. He joined the NCKU Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing in 2024 and currently serves as an Associate Dean. He expressed special gratitude to National Sun Yat-sen University for its strong support and resources during his early academic career. In particular, he acknowledged the efforts of former President Ying-Yao Cheng, who actively facilitated the establishment of the Center of Crystal Research under the MOE Higher Education SPROUT Project. He also emphasized that all the colleagues who worked alongside him at National Sun Yat-sen University played a crucial role in achieving today’s success.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2025-03-11
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