NTNU Showcases Smart IoT and AI Education Innovations at 2026 InnoVEX
The 2026 InnoVEX, one of Asia’s leading startup and technology exhibitions, was held 2-5 June at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, bringing together startups, research institutions, and industry representatives from around the world to present emerging technologies and innovative applications.
National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), led by its Office of Research and Development and supported by the Global Industry Platform, organized university research teams to participate in the exhibition. The NTNU pavilion highlighted the University’s latest achievements in smart Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and digital education content, while expanding opportunities for industry-academia collaboration and technology commercialization. The exhibition was jointly coordinated by NTNU’s Division of Research and Industry Liaison along with its Innovation and Incubation Center, which assist faculty research teams in connecting with market resources and industry needs. One featured project, the Underground Smart IoT System, was developed by a team led by Professor Shuen-De Wu of NTNU’s Department of Mechatronic Engineering. Focusing on applications in underground IoT and AI, the team is preparing to establish a startup,Ucore Technology Co., Ltd., with applications in smart disaster prevention, smart agriculture, and sewer monitoring. The team has developed several core technologies, including low-power wireless communication modules, radar water-level sensors, wireless cameras, fog-edge AI single-board computers, and sewer monitoring systems. Its Sewer Monitoring and Maintenance Platform integrates site images, water levels, rainfall data, and AI recognition results into an intelligent dashboard, allowing management units to monitor field conditions in real time. The system features abnormal water-level analysis, time-lapse video playback, AI-powered alerts, and instant notifications through LINE and Telegram. These functions help authorities quickly identify workplace safety violations, abnormal water coloration, and suspected illegal discharge incidents. By using AI models to analyze water-level changes in dry and rainy conditions, the platform can also support the detection of rainwater-sewage mixing and illegal factory discharge, improving the efficiency of environmental monitoring and management. Another featured achievement was the Generative AI Voice-Interactive Picture Book Platform, developed by a team led by Professor Shih-Hau Fang of NTNU’s Department of Electrical Engineering, who also serves as Associate Vice President for Research and Development. The platform integrates artificial intelligence technologies including automatic speech recognition, text-to-speech, and large language models to create an interactive AI picture book experience for children. In addition to guided reading, character-based voice interaction, and real-time question-and-answer functions, the platform also incorporates gamified learning modes such as collaborative storytelling, drawing-based guessing games, and coloring activities. These features encourage children to move from passive reading to active learning participation. Looking ahead, the technology has strong potential for application in early childhood education and digital publishing, as well as future development into an educational content platform or API licensing service. NTNU’s participation in InnoVEX not only demonstrated the University’s strengths in interdisciplinary research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, but also served as an important opportunity to promote technology commercialization and strengthen industry connections. Through its Division of Research and Industry Liaison as well as Innovation and Incubation Center, NTNU will continue to integrate campus research resources, support faculty teams in deepening industry-academia collaboration, expand international engagement, and accelerate the transition of high-quality research outcomes into market-ready applications. The two NTNU units also expressed that they will continue to encourage students and faculty interested in innovation and entrepreneurship to participate in related programs. These efforts aim to cultivate a stronger innovation ecosystem on campus and bring more outstanding research outcomes to the market. Upcoming opportunities: 2. The National Science and Technology Council’s Taiwan Germination Program (TGP), which supports the commercialization of academic research and the development of startup companies. The program’s Germination Grant provides up to NT$8 million, while the Advanced Grant provides up to NT$15 million. Applications are expected to open by August 2026. For more information, please consult https://exp.stpi.narl.org.tw/project/TGP/index or contact Ms. He at the Office of Research & Development by phone (02-7749-5756).
1. “Exploring Penghu’s Agriculture, Islands, and Marine Communities” local revitalization field visit, scheduled for 29 June to 1 July 2026. Interested students may register here: https://forms.gle/NbsgpYHJcriz4SdY6