Bridging Boundaries: Insights from CZ Biohub’s Dr. Burkholder at T5GIP Seminar
Dr. William F. Burkholder, Director of Science Program Management at Chan Zuckerberg in California delivered a keynote speech to kick off the “Scientific community building & Theories of Change” seminar on November 9. Organized by the Global Industry Platform of the National Taiwan University System (T5GIP), the seminar aimed to create a thriving ecosystem for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration.
Drawing on his experiences at CZ Biohub in San Francisco, Burkholder’s insights addressed the complexities of building trust within teams and navigating the challenges of inter-university cooperation.
Distinguished panelists in attendance included Kuan-Yi Karen Lin representing the Department of Academia-Industry Collaboration at the Ministry of Science and Technology; Vice President for Research and Development Professor Chung-Chih from the National Taiwan University (NTU), Deputy Director Professor Tsung-Lin Yang from the Center for Academia-Industry cooperation at NTU; along with NTNU Vice President for Research and Development, Professor Ying-Shao Hsu and Deputy Director Professor Tung-Sheng Chen from the NTNU Biology and Pharmaceutical Master's Degree Program.
In her remarks, Kuan-Yi Karen Lin emphasized the Ministry of Science and Technology’s efforts, such as the establishment of Global Research & Industry Alliance (GLORIA), in guiding scientific research and promoting industrial development. She highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary, inter-institutional, and international collaborations in advancing Taiwan's standing in the global research community.
NTNU R&D Director Professor Ying-Shao Hsu shared his experiences in interdisciplinary cooperation, and detailed NTNU's response to the National Key Fields Industry-University Cooperation Initiative in establishing the College of Industry-Academia Innovation (CIAI). Building on NTNU’s excellence in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, the CIAI fosters international partnerships and inter-institutional collaboration to enhance research, development, entrepreneurship, and industry-academia cooperation.
Panelists at the seminar shared their experiences in interdisciplinary collaboration, discussing their career paths in academia and industry, and the importance of face-to-face interaction and trust in collaboration. They noted that a shared vision, culture, and communication at the leadership level, are all crucial elements for a successful inter-institutional partnership.