I. Objective: The objective of this integrated collaboration project specialized on Science is to promote the international academic cooperation and cultivate academic talents between the University Academic Alliance in Taiwan (UAAT) and the Kyushu Okinawa Open University (KOOU), thus attracting exceptional global academics and overseas students to Taiwan.
II. Title of Integrated Project: Space Technology Exploration and Data Science Applications
III. Scope of Sub-Project: Topics related to space science, satellite technology, satellite remote sensing, or the aforementioned subjects connected to data science.
IV. Eligibility:
i. There are a main-project and multiple sub-projects under the Integrated Project. Each Sub-Project must include two parts: “research” and “talent cultivation”.
ii. Each UAAT member university can only apply for one Sub-Project (depending on the university of the PI).
iii. Each Sub-Project must include participation of at least two UAAT member universities and one KOOU member university/institution.
iv. Restriction on Sub-Project team members and regulations for Principal Investigators (PI) and Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PI) within the Integrated Projects under UAAT (also applicable to the scholars from KOOU universities submitting applications):
1. If two or more Sub-Projects share more than half of their team members, only one can be approved by Ministry of Education
2. The PI and Co-PI must be full-time teaching or research personnel formally employed by their respective institution/unit during the execution period of the project.
3. Each applicant may submit up to two applications as PI or Co-PI.
4. Each applicant may serve as PI on up to one Sub-Project, and may serve as PI or Co-PI on up to two Sub-Projects in total.
5. If there are any parts that do not comply with the above, the result shall be reviewed and decided by the Ministry of Education.
V. Funding:
i. The maximum amount of funding for each Sub-Project is NTD 1.6 million as principle.
ii. The budget allocation of each Sub-Project shall include the personnel, general expenses, equipment (capital expenditure) and overhead expenses. The personnel cost must not exceed 20% of the Sub-Project’s total requested funding as principle. The domestic and international travel expenses are included in the general expenses. The equipment costs (capital expenditure) should be limited to 10% of the Sub-Project’s total requested funding as principle. The overhead expenses must not exceed 15% of the general expenses (subject to the regulations of each university).
iii. To promote and jointly implement the International Talents Education Special Program (INTENSE Program), each Sub-Project may include in its proposal related activities and budget for promoting such programs. This may include recruitment promotion measures and expenses, related scholarships, living stipends, advisor fees, etc.
VI. Review Criteria: The review criteria include the following: alignment with project objectives, project integration and coherence, future development, bilateral resource investment and cultivation of international academic talents (including university-industry collaboration)
VII.Project Duration: From December 1st, 2025 to November 30th, 2026.
VIII.Application Process:
i. The deadline for Sub-Project applications to be submitted to the Coordinating University (National Cheng Kung University) is August 10 th, 2025 (Sunday).
ii. Each UAAT member university can only apply for one Sub-Project, which must be selected and submitted by the UAAT contact window of each university (with the deadline determined independently by each UAAT member university).
Electronic files of the application documents (both pdf and word format) must be emailed to the contact email of Office of International Affairs, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU): kevinchiu@gs.ncku.edu.tw. The subject must be in the following format: “UAAT-KOOU Science-based field_(University Name)_(Sub-Project Name)”.
iii. Please write the proposal in accordance with the required format. (The proposal must be written in English, except for specific parts required to be in Chinese.)
IX. Others:
i. Each Sub-Project must comply with the requirements set by the PI of the Integrated Collaboration Project, including the arrangement of monthly progress meetings and quarterly integration meetings, and submission of a full-year final project report as requested by the UAAT Secretariat.
ii. After the Coordinating University organizes a review committee and completes the review meeting, the Coordinating University will proceed with further integration and submit the Integrated Project proposal in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s regulations. Subsequent review will be carried out by the Ministry of Education.