The University of Macau (UM) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Synchrotron Radiation Research Center in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Having recently relocated to its new campus on Hengqin Island, UM is entering a new phase of greatly enhancing its intellectual ambiance by proactively reaching out to regional and global outstanding research institutions to establish new, innovative collaborations. One of such collaborative relationships is with the world-renowned Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC) in Hsinchu, Taiwan, through a recently signed MOU.

“Synchrotron Radiation research is a ‘must’ for any aspiring research universities in the 21st century,” says UM Rector Wei Zhao. “Any researcher at a university who wants to conduct world-class research on wet and dry materials will invariably need easy and seamless access to synchrotron radiation facility. For this reason, UM is honoured that Dr Felix Gwo, director of the NSRRC, and I, can sign this unprecedented document!”

This sentiment is enthusiastically echoed by Dr Da-Hsuan Feng, director of UM’s Global Affairs Office and special assistant to the rector. “Taiwan’s NSRRC, established in 1995 as a 1.5 GeV facility, will soon be upgraded to a 3.0 GeV facility in 2015,” says Dr Feng. “After the upgrade, the NSRRC will become one of the most important facilities for material science and bio-materials in Asia. UM’s signing an MOU with the NSRRC cannot be better timed since UM is just initiating a robust programme in health and material research!”