Industrial Technology Research Institute

This year marks the 35th year of ITRI’s involvement in advanced measurement technology research at the Center for Measurement Standards and its operation of the National Measurement Laboratory (NML). To celebrate the anniversary, ITRI launched a series of forums between August and December, with the support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ (MOEA’s) Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI). Topics covered in the sessions include Safety for Smart Products and Systems, Digital Transformation and Application on Metrology, Semiconductor Inspection and Metrology, and Metrology Development for Net Zero Emissions and Sustainability. Metrologists from organizations around the world and experts from industries and academia were invited to take part in these events, which is expected to spark conversations on the exploration of next-generation measurement technology.

In 1987, ITRI was commissioned by the MOEA to build and operate the NML, the highest-level metrology standards organization in Taiwan. The Institute was also tasked to set up the Center for Measurement Standards in the same year. For the past 35 years, the two have developed metrology standards for Taiwan’s industries and delivered measurement verification for new technologies. In 2018, ITRI introduced the silicon sphere mass standard manufactured by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Germany, establishing the new International System of Units (SI) standard in Taiwan. This was strongly supported by then-Premier and now-Vice President of Taiwan Lai Ching-Te. For the 35th anniversary celebration this year, he expressed his hope that ITRI can continue to carry out its mission to establish national-level measurement standards, develop forward-looking test and verification technologies, and enhance industrial competitiveness.

ITRI President Dr. Edwin Liu stated that in order to stay competitive in the global market, Taiwan’s high-tech industries must comply with international metrology standards. The Institute has maintained the highest metrology standards in Taiwan to ensure that local measurement results are in line with international levels. Looking forward, ITRI will focus on net-zero sustainability, advanced semiconductors, AI evaluation, and digital transformation for the next-stage measurement technology. This will improve the crucial measurement solutions for advanced processes and raw material quality inspection in the semiconductor industry chain and others. It is also hoped that these world-class technology and standards can provide a foundation for net zero emission verification, application infrastructure for green energy, power measurements for transportation electrification projects and electric grids, and carbon negative and environmental monitoring technologies.

MOEA Industrial Development Bureau Director General and former BSMI Director General Dr. Ching-Chang Lien in the opening remark of the first forum session pointed out that metrology standards are part of the development basis for many fields and key to improving industry upgrades for emerging industries such as AI, smart manufacturing, semiconductor advanced processes, and green energy. In 2002, Taiwan participated in the International Committee of Weights & Measures (CIPM) in which the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA) was signed. This ensures that calibration reports issued in Taiwan will be accepted by all signatory countries and organizations and can thus protect the fair-trading rights of Taiwan’s industries in the global market.

Dr. Tzeng-Yow Lin, General Director of ITRI Center for Measurement Standards, remarked that the forums invited experts from measurement institutions, industry, and academia from all over the globe, such as the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Rehabilitation Research Institute of Singapore (RRIS), Microsoft IoT Center of Excellence, SEMI, MOTC Railway Technology Research and Certification Center, Environment and Development Foundation, and Chroma ATE. “It is crucial to conform to the international system of units and metrology standards while current technologies and industries are moving towards high precision and high quality,” he said.