In response to the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology and the ongoing transformation of the healthcare sector, the College of Computer Science at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (hereinafter referred to as NYCU) has announced that it will collaborate across colleges with the College of Medicine to establish the "Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Medical Computing" (IAIMC) in the 116th academic year.

The institute is dedicated to cultivating interdisciplinary talents who possess both AI algorithm capabilities and clinical medical understanding. This initiative not only responds to the global wave of smart healthcare but also marks a critical step for NYCU in continuously deepening its layout in artificial intelligence.

Strategic Layout: Aligning with National Policy and Industry Needs

In recent years, AI has transitioned from laboratory research to practical applications. In the medical field, AI plays an increasingly critical role in image interpretation, disease prediction, and clinical decision support systems. The Taiwanese government continues to promote the "Healthy Taiwan" initiative and the "Smart Nation Program (DIGI+ 2.0)," prioritizing smart healthcare as a national development pillar.

Against this backdrop, the founding of the IAIMC is a strategic move to align with national policies and industry demands. University officials noted that the construction of future smart medical systems urgently requires professionals who understand both clinical settings and AI technology—a talent pool that remains relatively scarce. This institute will bridge this gap and bolster Taiwan's overall competitiveness in the global smart healthcare arena.

Bridging Technology and Medicine: A Multi-Dimensional Curriculum

NYCU has long cultivated the fields of artificial intelligence and medicine, establishing a solid foundation in teaching and research. The College of Computer Science possesses strong and robust AI teaching and R&D capabilities, with distinct developments and applications across the Institute of Computer Science and Engineering, the Institute of Data Science and Engineering, the Institute of Multimedia Engineering, and the Institute of Network Engineering. Meanwhile, the College of Medicine offers highly distinctive clinical resources and medical research capabilities. Both colleges possess world-class standards, and the newly established institute will further integrate these existing advantages, serving as an important hub connecting them.

IAIMC will be the first institute established through collaboration across both the Guangfu and Yangming campuses. It will play a key strategic role, deeply integrating AI and high-end medical computing to establish a forward-looking leadership position in interdisciplinary AI applications.

The curriculum of IAIMC will combine theory and practice. In addition to cutting-edge AI technologies, it will cover medical image analysis, biomedical data processing, and clinical applications, complemented by research projects to train students' hands-on capabilities. Furthermore, the institute will connect multiple AI research centers and industry-academia collaboration platforms within the university, facilitating the translation of research results into actual clinical settings. The university emphasized that the future core philosophy will be "Lab to Bedside" to enhance translational research and application effectiveness.

Elite Faculty: A Joint Venture Between Two Colleges

The institute is jointly promoted by Dr. Shiuh-Pyng Shieh, Dean of the College of Computer Science, and Dr. Shuu-Jiun Wang, Dean of the College of Medicine, integrating top-tier faculty. In addition to core full-time interdisciplinary experts, there are more than 30 supporting faculty members from both colleges. Their research expertise spans artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, genetic epidemiology, immunology research, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, and medical image analysis. Through a "research group" model, the institute will further consolidate research energy and elevate overall teaching and research quality.

The institute expects to recruit 15 master's students annually. Applicants from computer science, electrical engineering, medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, bioinformatics, nursing, engineering, statistics, and other related fields are welcome to apply. In-service professionals are also welcome to enroll, creating a diverse and cross-disciplinary learning environment.

Career Prospects: Leading the Smart Healthcare Industry

According to industry analysis, the global smart healthcare market size is expanding at a significant rate, and domestic AI healthcare job openings are showing a high growth trend. Talents with dual expertise in medicine and AI have become highly sought-after candidates for major hospitals, biotech companies, and startups.

Graduates of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Medical Computing will become highly sought-after, multi-disciplinary specialists in the market. In addition to traditional AI algorithm engineers, they can precisely align with smart diagnosis and treatment centers in medical institutions, biomedical information companies, or medical device R&D enterprises. More importantly, the institute attaches great importance to technological ethics, incorporating data privacy and regulatory governance into its teaching to ensure that while students pursue technological breakthroughs, they can also safeguard bioethics and medical values.

Vision and Academic Outlook

Overall, the establishment of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Medical Computing is not merely the expansion of a single academic department, but symbolizes a major milestone for NYCU in interdisciplinary integration. Through the close combination of computer science and medicine, AI technology will further expand into medical application fields with high social impact.

Looking forward to the 116th academic year, the official launch of the "Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Medical Computing" will inject brand-new vitality into the university's teaching and research system. Through the mutual prosperity of information technology and medical science, NYCU will continue to drive the development of smart healthcare, making AI a powerful ally in safeguarding public health.