Feature
ITRI Celebrates Golden Jubilee
On July 5, ITRI celebrated its historic 50th anniversary. Over the past five decades, ITRI has remained steadfast in its commitment to empowering Taiwan’s industries through innovations, transforming Taiwan from a labor-intensive economy to a technologically advanced country. In light of this significant milestone, ITRI’s Chairman and President each took the opportunity to reflect on the Institute’s history and outline the vision for the future.
President Tsai Ing-wen attended the golden jubilee ceremony and presented commemorative trophies to the Chairmen and Presidents of ITRI as a token of appreciation for their dedication over the years.
“50 years ago, ITRI was founded as the first applied technology research institution in Taiwan,” remarked ITRI Chairman Chih-Kung Lee. “Throughout the years, ITRI has made significant contributions to driving the growth of emerging industries in various sectors, including semiconductors, ICT, materials and chemicals, machinery, biomedicine, and green energy.” To commemorate ITRI’s role in advancing Taiwan’s industrialization in these fields, Lee announced the inauguration of an ITRI museum as part of the anniversary celebration. The museum exhibits hundreds of historical documents and objects that bear witness to Taiwan’s industrialization progress and technological milestones over the past five decades, including Taiwan’s first commercial integrated circuit developed in 1976 and the world’s first two-layer flexible copper-clad laminate introduced in 1996.
ITRI Museum of History showcases historical documents and objects that illustrate Taiwan’s progress in semiconductors, ICT, materials and chemicals, machinery, biomedicine, and green energy. (Image from Plain Design)
“As the driving force across industries, ITRI has successfully transitioned Taiwan from a technology follower to a global innovator over the years,” said ITRI President Edwin Liu. To navigate the dynamic global landscape, Dr. Liu declared the rollout of ITRI’s 2035 Technology Strategy and Roadmap. This initiative aims to foster market-oriented development and support industries in four key application domains: Smart Living, Quality Health, Sustainable Environment, and Resilient Society. Dr. Liu highlighted the Institute’s support in net-zero transition and digital transformation for industries, which are crucial for enhancing Taiwan’s global competitiveness. Leveraging its technological capabilities, ITRI is also deepening partnerships with global allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Europe, and many others, positioning Taiwan as a trustable partner among the international community.
Learn more about ITRI’s semiconductor development history and future international cooperation.