Two of Taiwan's industry leaders and a top U.S. Chemist will come together at Academia Sinica November 13 to discuss the interwoven future of technology innovation and social responsibility. Dr. George Whitesides, one of the world's top chemists; Morris Chang, president of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC); and Bruce C.H. Cheng, founder and chairman of the Delta Group will each take the floor during a half-day forum entitled "International forum on Technology Innovation and Social Responsibility". Simultaneous interpretation facilities will be provided. Media and the public are welcome to attend.

Dr. Chang received his BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1952 and 1953, respectively. He then became engineering manager at Texas Instruments in 1958. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1964. He founded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world's largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry, in 1987.

Dr. Chang was the recipient of the IEEE Robert N. Noyce Award for Exceptional Contributions to Microelectronics Industry, and the "Exemplary Leadership Award" of the Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA). He was selected by Buisness Week as one of the "Top 25 Managers of the Year" and "Stars of Asia" in 1998; and by BancAmerica Robertson Stephens as "One of The Most Significant Contributors in the 50 years of Semiconductor Industry" in 1998.

Dr. Chang is Member of National Academy of Engineering (U.S.A) and Member of MIT Corporation, MIT's board of trustees, as well. He is also on the advisory boards of the New York Stock Exchange, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Chang is also on the board of the Eisenhower Fellowship Trustees. He was formerly on the board of Goldman Sachs. Chang has also received honorary doctorates from National Chiao-Tung University, National Tsing Hua University, and National Central University in Taiwan as well as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the U.S. Since 2001 he has been an advisor in the Office of the President of the Republic of China.

Mr. Cheng received a BSEE degree from National Cheng Kung University. He is the founder and chairman of Delta Group which started out in 1971 as Delta Electronics, a television component producer. Under his leadership, Delta has become a world leader in power supplies and electronic components that are employed throughout the global computer, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and networking industries. In 2007 Delta was honored to receive the top Corporate Social Responsibility award from Global Views Magazine for the third year in a row, as well as CommonWealth Magazine's first Corporate Citizen award. Delta has received the "Most Admired Company" award from Commonwealth Magazine for six years in a row.

Mr. Cheng has been called Taiwan's first "Chief Environmental Officer" by Taiwan media. Mr. Cheng has dedicated to natural environment preservation through innovative and energy-saving technologies. In 1990, he established the Delta Electronics Foundation to promote environmental and natural resource conservation. Delta has also joined with Nokia, HP, NTT, and Philips as a member of MIT's Oxygen Alliance to develop human-centered computer technology.

In 2007, Mr. Cheng received an honorary doctorate from National Central University's (NCU) College of Earth Sciences and an honorary doctorate in engineering from National Cheng Kung University in recognition of his promotion of environmental sustainability while pursuing advances in technology and his outstanding contributions to the development of the world's electronics industry. In 2006, the Chinese Management Association presented Mr. Cheng with its highest management award. Another honor conferred upon Mr. Cheng in 2006 was an honorary doctorate in engineering from National Tsing Hua University.

Professor Whitesides received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 1960 and his PhD from the California Institute of Technology in 1964. He was a member of the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1963 to 1982. He joined the Department of Chemistry at Harvard University in 1982, and held the position of Department Chairman from 1986-89, and associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences from 1989-92.

His current interests are in physical and organic chemistry, surface sciences, micro fluids, self-assembly, science for developing economies, drug development, and origins of life. He is also active in public service, chairing the Whitesides' Report on the state of chemical research in the U.K. (2002), participating in the National Academies' report addressing U.S. competitiveness in science and technology, as well as serving advisory roles to the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Among his many awards, Prof. Whitesides is a recipient of the Welch Award (2005), Priestley Award (American Chemical Society) (2007), Prince of Asturias Award in Science and Technology (Prince of Asturias Foundation, Spain) (2008) and the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry (Franklin Foundation) (2009).

Related website: http://iao.sinica.edu.tw/TISR/index.html

Date: Friday, November 13, 2009

Venue: International Conference Hall, Building for Humanities and Social Sciences