TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung City Government said Sunday that city officials visited major innovation hubs in New Jersey on March 16 to strengthen cooperation with US partners in technology, research, and industry.
The delegation first toured The Helix, a large-scale innovation park designed to bring together academic research, startup incubation, and commercial development in one location. Officials said the project demonstrates how close collaboration between universities and businesses can turn research into real-world applications.
The first building at The Helix is expected to open in June and will host a flagship medical school from Rutgers University, a public research institution in New Jersey. The facility will include teaching space, laboratories, and a startup incubator spanning about 30,000 square feet to support early-stage companies.
A second building under development will house Nokia Bell Labs, a historic research institute known for major scientific breakthroughs. Researchers there will focus on advanced fields such as quantum computing, next-generation 6G communications, and space-based communication systems, per UDN.
A third building, scheduled to begin construction in April, will combine office space, wireless research laboratories, and housing for researchers. The surrounding area is planned as a mixed-use zone with public spaces and retail facilities, creating a “live, work, innovate” environment, Liberty Times reported.
During meetings, representatives from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority outlined funding programs and tax incentives aimed at attracting global companies. They encouraged Taichung firms and startups to enter the US market and build cross-border partnerships, Economic Daily News reported.
The delegation also visited the NJ AI Hub, an artificial intelligence center jointly supported by Princeton University and Microsoft. The center provides advanced computing infrastructure and workforce training programs to support AI development, per Yahoo News.
The city government said the visit provided practical insights for Taichung’s smart city plans, including the use of big data in governance and transportation systems. It added that local industries could adopt AI technologies to improve efficiency, address production challenges, and move toward net-zero emissions goals.
