An Achiever of Common Good in Society

Talent Development

In addition to developing the brand and advancing core technologies, HIWIN has increased its involvement in talent development initiatives within the precision machinery industry as operating profits have grown. Through recognizing mechanical pioneers, identifying industrial talents, and nurturing international talents, we strive to achieve a synergistic effect that drives innovation, integrates resources, and enhances our capabilities, thereby contributing to the creation of a society focused on learning and growth. In various public welfare projects, we employ multiple investment methods, including leading participation, project-based participation, and resource sponsorship, to enhance the quality of education.

Cultivate Future Talents, Starting from Young Age

Global Chairman Eric Y.T. Chuo (PH.D.), the founder of HIWIN, firmly believes that those who are less fortunate have limited resources, but knowledge is a valuable asset. As a result, HIWIN is dedicated to multiple facets of talent development, including community outreach and support for grassroots education. This is a significant and enduring social responsibility that is worth our investment.

HIWIN, situated in various counties and towns across Taiwan, conducts visits to local school libraries, where they assess the facilities, book collections, and reading environments. The Company aids the schools in developing improvement plans and offers financial assistance to upgrade both hardware and software. Furthermore, HIWIN consistently donates books to enhance the libraries.

In 2023, HIWIN sponsored US$ 129,067.5 for library equipment and book donations, including 980 books benefiting 2,305 students at Liu-Jia Elementary School in Hsinchu, Cih-Tong Elementary School in Yunlin, and Sun-Hope Elementary School in Chiayi, fostering good reading habits and critical thinking skills in children from an early age.

Recognizing the importance of language as a vital tool for active engagement on the global stage, HIWIN endeavors to establish a strong English foundation for children, nurturing their speaking skills and bolstering their confidence. Since September 2010, we have provided sponsorship for the implementation of the “English Curriculum” program and related activities in Liu-Jia Elementary School in Hsinchu. Starting from January 2014, HIWIN has expanded its sponsorship to include Cih-Tong Elementary School in Yunlin. In 2023, HIWIN invested US$ 211,423.7 in the program and 1,502 students participated.

In response to the implementation of the 2019 Curriculum Guidelines, Liu-Jia Elementary School aimed to promote STEAM education. With strong support from the HIWIN Education Foundation, the STEAM Education Demonstration was launched in 2019. A STEAM classroom was set up in the Chuo Yung-Tung Memorial Library at Liu-Jia Elementary School in Hsinchu. A professional organization was also commissioned to assist the school in conducting STEAM teacher training courses. These initiatives were carried out in phases, allowing students to experience and unleash their imagination and creativity in STEAM, integrating and applying their knowledge of mathematics and science to solve real-life problems. In 2020, Political Deputy Minister of Education Mon Chi Liu led a delegation to visit the Liu-Jia Elementary School for on-site inspections. The foundation’s implementation team also presented the project’s highlights to Minister of Education Wen Chung Pan, receiving high recognition from the Ministry of Education. Starting in 2022, STEAM education was extended to Cih-Tong Elementary School in Yunlin. The HIWIN-sponsored STEAM Education Demonstration Base Project received a total of US$ 17,879.5.

Liu-Jia Elementary School has achieved impressive results in various STEAM-related competitions. In the 2022 National Technology Education Creative Practical Competition, Liu-Jia Elementary School’s project “Smart Bathroom Assistant” stood out among more than a hundred teams, winning the silver medal in the elementary school group. Additionally, the school excelled in the 2022 National Elementary School Mathematics Literacy Learning Achievement Exhibition—Fermat’s Classroom competition, securing both first and second place.

Commending Mechanical Pioneers, Driving Innovation

HIWIN aims to leverage the synergy between academia and industry to foster a culture of continuous self-improvement among young students. By nurturing their capabilities and integrating theoretical knowledge with practical skills, HIWIN strives to drive research and development innovations in the engineering sector. This collaborative approach ultimately enhances the industry’s core competitiveness.

Robots play a crucial role in smart manufacturing, making them an essential capability. In order to advance the technology and value of Taiwan’s robot industry, as well as to identify talented individuals for related fields, HIWIN established the “HIWIN Smart Robotics Contest” in 2008. By 2023, a total of 15 competitions have been held, with 689 participating teams, 199 award-winning teams, and 1,267 award-winning teachers and students. The total investment for the 15th installment was US$ 73,798.9. A total of 152 teams from 64 schools participated, with 6 awarded teams (30 individuals) in the “Application and Billiards Group” and 7 awarded teams (32 individuals) in the Technical and Vocational Group. The intense competition drew a large audience and generated significant attention and response.

In line with our commitment to cultivating exceptional mechanical engineering talent for the industry, HIWIN introduced the HIWIN Thesis Award in 2004. The objective is to leverage the collective expertise of industry and academia to advance research and development, enhance product value, and bolster the industry’s core competitiveness. 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the HIWIN Thesis Award, which has seen an annual investment of US$ 325 thousand. Over the past two decades, the award has received 1,927 submissions, with 300 winning entries and 636 award recipients among teachers and students. This year, HIWIN organized three study trips to Japan, including visits to the MECT Nagoya Machine Tool Exhibition, iREX Robot Exhibition, and SEMICON Semiconductor Exhibition. These trips offered the winning teachers and students the opportunity to explore these exhibitions, tour world-class industrial companies, experience local culture, and engage in exchanges that sparked innovative ideas. It was a chance for them to broaden their horizons and gain valuable insights. The HIWIN Thesis Award has served as a catalyst for the establishment and organization of similar accolades by other companies. It has garnered significant acclaim and admiration from both the domestic mechanical industry and academic community, earning the distinction of being hailed as the Nobel Prize of the mechanical industry.

HIWIN encourages young scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and around the world to participate in research and innovative applications in the field of mechanical engineering and automation. Our objective is to cultivate talented individuals in mechanical engineering who possess core competencies, foster collaboration between the business and academic sectors, promote technological advancement and innovation, and elevate the global standing of the Chinese mechanical industry. Since 2011, HIWIN has allocated an annual budget of approximately US$ 651.4 thousand for the HIWIN Doctoral Dissertation Award, which is organized by the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society (CMES) in Beijing. In the first 13 editions, we have received a total of 1,639 submissions, with 323 winning entries and 736 students and professors receiving awards.

Hand in Hand, Developing Smart Manufacturing Talent

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” HIWIN collaborates with schools and businesses from different regions through alliances, working together to integrate resources and cultivate talents for smart manufacturing. This initiative establishes a strong foundation for interdisciplinary talents in the mechanical field and enhances the industry’s competitiveness.

HIWIN makes significant efforts to align learning with industry demands and ensure that talent is recognized based on their capabilities. We invest both funds and human resources to integrate the strengths of academia and industry, collaborating with the Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association (TAIROA) to organize the Automation Engineer certification exam. This initiative involves the participation of approximately 500 faculty members from mechanical-related universities and top colleges nationwide, who contribute to question setting and review. Since the certification’s preparation period in 2006, HIWIN has been actively involved in building the question bank, and from 2009 onwards, our planning team has provided ongoing support for campus promotion and the production of promotional materials. This effort continues to this day. As of 2023, we have successfully conducted 28 sessions of the Automation Engineer certification exam and 14 sessions of the Robotics Engineer certification exam (2016 to present). A total of 39,246 individuals have registered for these exams, resulting in the awarding of 10,902 certificates.

In August 2020, HIWIN took the initiative to support the establishment of the Taiwan Robotics Industry-Academia Alliance by TAIROA, with the aim of promoting the development of Taiwan’s robotics industry.

HIWIN, in collaboration with TAIROA, jointly promoted the inclusion of the “Industrial Robots Technology” category in the national skills competition for high school students in the industrial sector. Through official letters and visits, they garnered the support and signatures of 55 principals, directors, and teachers from technical high schools. The application was submitted in December 2022. HIWIN’s leadership believes that promoting this category will aid Taiwan’s industrial upgrade and fully supported the effort. HIWIN provided 30 industrial robots and electric grippers free of charge for the competition site. In May 2023, the addition of the “Industrial Robots Technology” category was successfully approved!

November 2023 marked the inaugural “Industrial Robots Technology” competition, with a total of 27 teams and 54 participants. HIWIN not only provided free training courses for the participants but also offered prizes for the top teams. The top three schools received an articulated robot, and the fourth-place team received an electric gripper.

HIWIN sponsored mechanical camps organized by prestigious universities, including National Taiwan University, National Chung Hsing University, Tamkang University, and National Chung Cheng University, in order to promote the participation of high school students in the precision machinery field and enhance their understanding of mechanical engineering. These camps provide students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge on mechanical-related subjects and foster a sense of teamwork through carefully designed courses and activities. Additionally, students gain valuable insights into the wide-ranging practical applications of mechanical engineering in everyday life, as well as its integration with artificial intelligence trends. By engaging in these camp activities, HIWIN aims to ignite the interest of young students in the machinery field. In 2023, we sponsored US$ 9.8 thousand.

Since 2012, HIWIN has implemented the HIWIN Scholarship program at Dalian University of Technology, granting selected students a scholarship of RMB$ 6,000 each. The primary objective is to incentivize students who possess a strong professional foundation and demonstrate innovative thinking. In 2014, the HIWIN Elite Student Scholarship was introduced to recognize exceptionally outstanding students. Recipients of this scholarship are awarded a bonus of RMB$10,000 and RMB$30,000 for training expenses related to international exchange visits. Starting from 2017, the scholarship program was also extended to Xi’an Jiaotong University. In 2023, a total of 60 students were awarded the HIWIN Scholarship, bringing the cumulative number of awardees to 540. Additionally, 20 students received the HIWIN Elite Student Scholarship in 2023, making the total number of awardees 170.

Contributing to Building a Learning Society

HIWIN is actively involved in supporting underprivileged and rural education through the initiation of innovative educational programs and sponsorship of activities that promote a positive learning environment. The Company is dedicated to contributing to the development of a society that prioritizes education.

HIWIN provides an annual sponsorship of US$65.1 thousand to support Chairman Stanley C.S. Yen in leading The Alliance Cultural Foundation and the Jiunyi School of Innovation. The main mission is to create a platform for resource integration, making Jiunyi the first bilingual school in Hualien and Taitung to adopt an inquiry-based teaching approach. Over six years, through middle and high school, Jiunyi School of Innovation focuses on enhancing students’ English proficiency, concentration, teamwork, and ability to explore their talents and strengths. The aim is to prepare students to face the world and to spread the school’s educational philosophy across Taiwan, setting a new standard and value for Taiwanese education.

HIWIN provides an annual sponsorship of US$32.6 thousand to support the educational assistance program at the Taichung Huei-Ming School for Blind Children. This sponsorship enables the school to implement a balanced and adaptive learning development for students, while also promoting the concept of safe and barrier-free campuses, professional growth for teachers, and inclusive community-school integration.

Since 2013, Tsing Hua University has implemented the Rising Sun Project, which aims to support students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds who have limited access to educational resources but demonstrate potential and a commitment to excellence. The project seeks to offer these exceptional students the opportunity to pursue a university education. From 2015 to 2018, HIWIN sponsored the project with an annual donation of US$32.6 thousand. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, scholarship contributions decreased. In response, HIWIN has reinstated the sponsorship program in 2022, and provided US$32.6 thousand in 2023 to assist financially challenged and exceptional students in pursuing higher education without financial concerns.

Professor Jia Tong Lee, the founder and honorary chairman of the Boyo Social Welfare Foundation, has long been concerned about Taiwan’s severe educational disparities. He noticed that most children from underprivileged families often struggle academically, leading to a lack of competitiveness in their adulthood, exacerbating the issue of wealth inequality in the country. Since 2015, HIWIN has been sponsoring US$16.3 thousand annually to support Boyo Social Welfare Foundation free remedial education to underprivileged children. The goal is to prevent them from falling into a cycle of perpetual poverty and offer personalized teaching to give these children a chance to start from scratch and acquire essential skills, thus enhancing their competitiveness.