The National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), an esteemed national laboratory under the auspices of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) of Thailand, is a long-term standing cooperation partner of National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Taiwan in the areas of Clean Water and Sustainable Energy. To strengthen this strategic partnership, the NTHU delegation, led by NTHU Provost and Senior Vice President, Professor Nyan-Hwa Tai, visited MTEC on August 7 to co-host the 2nd Taiwan-Thailand Symposium on Innovation and Sustainability.

The 2nd Taiwan-Thailand Symposium was presided by the head of the International Cooperation Division at MTEC, Hataikarn Srisook, and graced with the presence of Dr. Toemsak Srikhirin, Director of MTEC, and Provost Nyan-Hwa Tai, who delivered warm and welcoming remarks. Dr. Srikhirin expressed his heartfelt thanks for welcoming experts and scholars from Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan to MTEC to attend the 2nd Taiwan-Thailand Symposium, and hopes this symposium can pave the way for robust and fruitful cooperation between Taiwan and ASEAN in the vital domain of biochar and sustainable development. Provost Tai, in his address, highlighted the exceptional achievements of NTHU in the water-energy nexus and sustainable development goals, and do believe this symposium will reinforce the fruitful academic collaboration between Taiwan and Thailand, and then extend to other ASEAN countries.

The bilateral meeting officially began after an exchange of gifts between NTHU and MTEC and a group photo session. The 2nd symposium was held in a hybrid mode and invited 12 experts and scholars from five countries to present their research works. In addition to the 60 experts and scholars attending physically, more than 100 participants joined the conference online. The main focus of this symposium was on the circular economy and sustainable applications of biomass and biochar in various fields, including water quality treatment, energy, food, soil improvement, and climate change. This symposium has achieved a fruitful and forward-looking result, contributing to the innovative development of carbon-negative technologies, promoting international cooperation between domestic research teams and those from Thailand and ASEAN, and facilitating the practical application of biochar and net-zero sustainable technologies.

Figure 1: Dr. Toemsak Srikhirin, Director of MTEC, delivers the welcoming remarks at the signing ceremony.

Figure 2: Professor Nyan-Hwa Tai, Provost of National Tsing Hua University, delivers the welcoming remarks at the signing ceremony.

Figure 3: The exchange of commemorative gifts between National Tsing Hua University and MTEC.

Figure 4: Group photo of all invited speakers after the opening ceremony.

• News/Photos provided by National Tsing Hua University Taiwan-Thailand WISE Center