NTU and Oxford Instruments Partner to Found an Advanced Applications Center

NTU and Oxford Instruments announced a strategic partnership focusing on the development of an Advanced Applications Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis (AACMM), and held an opening ceremony for the center on September 4 (Figure 1).

Oxford Instruments plc is a leading provider of high technology solutions, information, and support for industry and research. The partnership leverages NTU’s research and development capabilities by installing a unique, state-of-the-art set of analytical systems from Oxford Instruments that will enable scientists to work at the frontiers of materials analysis. It is envisaged that the unique capabilities of AACMM will support Taiwanese industry to drive a competitive edge through the development of a much deeper understanding of materials performance at the nanoscale.

The solutions from Oxford Instruments are an X-Max Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDS) system, which includes an X-Max Extreme detector for ultra-high spatial resolution elemental analysis; a Nordlys Electron Backscatter Diffraction Analysis (EBSD) system for high-spatial resolution crystallographic analysis; and an Omniprobe 400 ultra-high precision nanomanipulator (Figure 2), which enables sample manipulation at the nanoscale.

Jonathan Bryon, Asia Vice President of NanoAnalysis at Oxford Instruments, commented, “We are very excited to be establishing a strategic partnership with NTU and we are now in discussions to extend our cooperation across a range of initiatives including the development and implementation of microscopy training schools.” The British Office Taipei expressed strong support for science and innovation cooperation between Taiwan and the UK. “The UK and Taiwan are natural partners in this field,” Office Representative Catherine Nettleton said, “because we both put science and innovation at the heart of our economic growth strategies. I am pleased to see innovative companies like Oxford Instruments spearhead that cooperation.”

Associate Dean and Prof. of Engineering C. Robert Kao (高振宏) said, “We appreciate the British Office Taipei for serving as an intermediary between Taiwan and the UK. This collaboration project and the advanced equipment from the UK will help further local research and development in a reciprocal manner.” AACMM Director and Assistant Prof. Hung-Wei Yen (顏鴻威) remarked, “This collaboration greatly enhances the capability of materials characterizations at NTU. The coming aim of the AACMM is to more efficiently support materials research in Taiwan.”

The UK has set out five priority areas for technological cooperation with Taiwan, namely life sciences, advanced manufacturing, digital economy, space science, and clean energy, which roughly correspond to the "5 + 2 Innovative Industries” plan of the Taiwanese government.

The opening ceremony was followed by a master class to demonstrate the AACMM’s capabilities in materials analysis and nanomanipulation.

(Source: Dr. Hung-Wei Yen, AACMM Director and Assistant Professor of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at National Taiwan University)