Dagmar Möbius

The Saxon Science Liaison Office Taiwan was opened in Taiwan on September 19, 2023. It is headed by Dr. Josef Goldberger. What challenges await this university collaboration expert and what is he most excited about?

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“How many people in Germany can name more than one city in Taiwan?” asks Dr. Josef Goldberger. Originally from Austria, he has lived in Taipei for six years, where he previously headed the DAAD Information Center. He hopes that people in Germany will come to learn more about this small Asian island. To further this goal, the Saxon Science Liaison Office Taiwan was recently opened in Taiwan. “It is the first of several other Saxon Foreign Offices planned for India, Uzbekistan and Vietnam,” explains the 46-year-old East Asia expert.

Technology transfer and training for the semiconductor industry

His office is located in the German Trade Office at the German Chamber of Commerce in Taipei. “The Free State of Saxony is very committed to its first Scientific Liaison Office abroad.” As the central point of contact for all Saxon universities, Dr. Josef Goldberger will recruit prospective students in Taiwan. He is very familiar with marketing Germany as a place to study. Nevertheless, some things are different in his new role: “‘Taiwan is small  and there won't be thousands of young people coming to Saxony. The focus is also on technology transfer and the education and training of skilled workers.” One reason for Saxony's intensive involvement is the planned establishment of the world's largest chip manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in Dresden. TSMC expects to need approximately 2,000 engineers by 2027. This is in addition to the needs of suppliers and other businesses.

Comprehensive training package in Taiwan

German specialists are also to be trained in Taiwan parallel to the construction of the chip plant in Dresden. As part of the Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program, 30 Master's and Diplom students from TU Dresden will initially be given the opportunity to spend six months in Taiwan. “The first phase will commence in February 2024. Applicants from the fields of engineering, physics, chemistry, natural sciences, microelectronics and nanotechnology are especially welcome.” They will study at a Taiwanese university for four months, then work in a factory and attend a TSMC training center. Various modules can be selected at the universities. There will also be language and cultural courses. For the six-month stay abroad, 15 credits will count towards their degrees in Germany. The Free State of Saxony will help fund the costs of the flight and living expenses.

Second phase for students from all universities in Saxony

There is no obligation to work at TSMC following the exchange semester. Students from all universities in Saxony can apply for the second phase of the program. Opportunities are also expected for alumni. In the future, all activities in Taiwan will be coordinated by Josef Goldberger, and it will be his job to keep track of everything.

Intensive intercultural experience

“Students in Saxony can look forward to a very intensive intercultural experience,” says Josef Goldberger, and laughs: “Right now, I’m happy if they know the difference between Thailand and Taiwan.” He goes on enthusiastically: “Taiwan is a small but very diverse island with a stable civil society and a functioning democracy. It is a country of personal initiative and political participation. The people are very amiable, friendly and helpful. There is also great culinary and geographical diversity. I've never met anyone who hasn't fallen in love with the country after visiting.”

Dr. Josef Goldberger's goal is to improve the perception of Taiwan in Saxony. “An experience like this in a foreign country is very valuable for the students,” he is convinced. For someone who has always worked in the field of university cooperation, his new role is very specific: “For example, many programs that were already fully developed could not be implemented during the pandemic. But now, I can help bring a great idea to life very quickly and watch as young people have formative life experiences as early as the beginning of 2024.” Although the technical aspect is a challenge for Dr. Goldberger, who studied social sciences and humanities, he has enjoyed taking it on.

Contact:
Dr. Josef Goldberger
Liaison Officer
Saxon Science Liaison Office Taiwan

Email:

About Dr. Josef Goldberger:
Dr. Josef Goldberger holds four university degrees in the humanities and social sciences. He completed his PhD in comparative education at the Humboldt University of Berlin, where he studied internationalization of Chinese universities. In Berlin, he worked as a Regional Coordinator for Institutional Cooperation (Asia and Australia) at the International Office of the Humboldt University of Berlin. He lived and taught in the People's Republic of China for more than twelve years, including at the prestigious Peking University and Tsinghua University. He headed the marketing team of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Beijing and worked as a project manager for the Goethe-Institut.

About TSMC:
The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) was founded in 1987. The company uses 288 different process technologies and manufactured 12,698 products for 532 customers in 2022 by offering a wide range of advanced and specialized technologies. The company is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan.