College of Engineering leaders visit Taiwan to expand semiconductor excellence

Leaders from Boise State University's College of Engineering recently traveled to Taiwan as part of a statewide delegation focused on strengthening ties in microelectronics and semiconductor-related fields.

The visit, organized by the Idaho Department of Commerce, built on more than four decades of economic and educational ties between Idaho and Taiwan and centered on expanding university-to-university collaboration in two regions deeply connected to the semiconductor industry.

Representing Boise State were Dean Amy Fleischer, Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering Director Eric Jankowski, and Professor Lan Li. The delegation included faculty and administrators from the Idaho Department of Commerce, Boise State, and four other Idaho higher education institutions, the Idaho Technology Council, the Idaho Manufacturing Alliance and from Micron Technology, who over five days met with Taiwanese universities, research institutes and government education leaders.

Photo courtesy of Dean Amy Fleischer

The delegation completed 13 site visits with universities, research institutes, ministries, companies and startup organizations - exploring pathways for collaboration in workforce development, research and academic exchanges.

"Our mission to Taiwan was a huge success, thanks to a warm welcome and a true spirit of partnership and collaboration across our state delegation," Idaho Commerce Business Development Specialist Tracy Day said. "During our visit, we secured new pathways for trade and high-tech workforce development that will support high-paying jobs and economic growth for Idaho. This visit proved that when we work together as a state, the future of Idaho and Taiwan's partnership is full of potential for shared growth and innovation."

A decades-long partnership

Taiwan and Idaho share a long-standing relationship that dates back more than 40 years. As Idaho's second-largest trading partner behind Canada, the pair established a sister-state relationship in the early 1980s, followed by the opening of the Idaho Trade Alliance in Taipei in 1988, creating a permanent presence to support trade and cooperation.

Over the years, the partnership has expanded beyond commerce to include education and cultural exchanges, with formal agreements supporting student mobility, academic cooperation and professional training. In 2024, Idaho and Taiwan reaffirmed their long-standing ties with a new memorandum of understanding recognizing shared priorities in economic growth, education and innovation.

This history made Taiwan a natural destination for Idaho's universities as the state continues to expand and invest in microelectronics and semiconductor workforce development.

"This visit builds upon decades of trust and partnership our sister-states have established for more than forty years," College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer said. "In better understanding Taiwan's rich ecosystems in education and industry support, we can begin to set the stage for what comes next right here in Idaho."

Photo courtesy of Dean Amy Fleischer

Exploring Taiwan's innovation model

Taiwan's leadership in the global semiconductor industry is supported by a national strategy that brings together government investment, higher education and industry in integrated science parks. These central hubs connect industry, research and education to accelerate innovation and workforce training.

The delegation met with leaders from two major research organizations, the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute and the Industrial Technology Research Institute, to learn how research transitions into production and how training pipelines are built alongside industry needs.

The group also visited four universities, National Chung Hsing University, Feng Chia University, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, and National Tsing Hua University, discussing joint research projects, student and faculty exchanges and ways academic programs can complement Idaho's growing microelectronics capacity.

Dean Amy Fleischer, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering Director Eric Jankowski, and Professor Lan Li pose for a selfie during their trip to Taiwan. Photo courtesy of Dean Amy Fleischer.

"Taiwan's sustained semiconductor education investments have paid off with global influence, and I think most people would be surprised that Idaho and Boise State are positioned to lead in worldwide chip development as well," said Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering Director Eric Jankowski. "This visit affirmed that our faculty and many facilities are world-class and I'm brimming with ideas for exchange that will accelerate our research and training opportunities."

Outside of higher education and research, the delegation was able to visit Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and the American Institute in Taiwan, highlighting the Taiwanese government's collaboration with industry and academia to support the semiconductor industry.

Looking forward

A central theme for this delegation's visit was Taiwan's investment in semiconductor-related degrees, certificates and specialized training programs, which are designed to respond directly to industry demand. Delegation members highlighted how Boise State's engineering programs integrate efforts through collaborative research, curriculum development and workforce partnerships.

"Boise State is committed to positioning Idaho as a formidable competitor in the global microelectronics industry," Interim President Jeremiah Shinn said. "Expanding and extending our decades-long partnership with Taiwan would strengthen economic growth and workforce development for our state, while creating exceptional opportunities for our faculty and students to learn, innovate and generate new knowledge."

One of the outcomes of the visit was a shared interest in pursuing memorandums of understanding between Idaho universities and Taiwanese institutions to support sustained collaboration in research, education and development.

The Taiwan visit alongside the Idaho Department of Commerce reflects Boise State's commitment to strengthening global partnerships that support education, research and economic development for Idaho. Boise State and the university and College of Engineering are reinforcing the role of Idaho's microelectronics strategy and opening doors for future collaboration with one of the world's most advanced semiconductor regions.

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