NPUST to Set Up Taiwan's First On-campus Business

Taipei, June 22, 2010 (CENS)--The National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) in southern Taiwan recently signed a pact with Apollo New Energy Corp. of Japan, founded in 1980 in Japan and whose Taiwan subsidiary opened in August 2008, to set up a factory powered by solar panels on campus, making it the first business run by a college on the island.

The contract stipulates the PV factory to start commercial operation in the second half of next year, generating six megawatts initially.

The university president, Y.G. Gu, says the contract requires Apollo New Energy to pay US$28 million for the joint venture in exchange for the university's pledge to supply five hectares of land and technology.

With a five-floor building and pitched roof equipped with auto-tracking solar panels, the factory will grow vegetables and fruits.

Taiwan's colleges can run incubation centers but are prohibited from running businesses, hence hindering financial capacity in light of declining recruitment.

Gu says that Taiwan is very suitable for developing renewable-energy and biotech industries for having rich tropical agro-capacity and ample sunlight, adding that the university is aggressively persuading the Ministry of Education and Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to approve its joint venture.

Gu says that, with the PV network running as planned, the venture could sell solar power to Taiwan Power Corp. to enhance collegiate finances. NPUST is known for its business savvy, with its co-operative reportedly generating annual turnover exceeding US$3.1 million due to several patented products, as a low-salt soy sauce.