2016 ANNUAL REVIEW Ministry of Science and Technology

2. Engineering Research in engineering and applied science encompasses 19 disciplines in the three major areas of electronics/information/communications, mechanical engineering/electrical engineering/ energy, and chemical engineering/materials/consumer applications, and also includes academic collaborative projects in applied technology. The chief goal of this discipline is to promote basic research in engineering technology and train high-level R&D manpower needed by industry in the future via the funding of specific-topic research projects, and to foster the upgrading of Taiwan's industrial technology through the extension of research project results. In addition, by encouraging interdisciplinary joint research involving different research teams, MOST hopes to further the development of major technologies improving people's lives and livelihoods, and thereby enhance public health and welfare, while integrating knowledge and applications in different fields. The following were some of most important research results achieved during 2016: Numbers and percentage of one- and multi-year specific-topic research projects in natural science, 2012-2016 Year All projects One-year projects (%) Multi-year projects (%) 2012 2,520 1,072 （ 42.54 ） 1,448 （ 57.46 ） 2013 2,356 1,058 （ 44.91 ） 1,298 （ 55.09 ） 2014 2,444 1,122 （ 45.91 ） 1,322 （ 54.09 ） 2015 2,584 1,229 （ 47.56 ） 1,355 （ 52.44 ） 2016 2,721 1,318 （ 48.44 ） 1,403 （ 51.56 ） Research manpower in natural science specific-topic research projects, 2012-2016 Units: person-times Item 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 1 Research personnel Professors 1,431 1,302 1,433 1,533 1,549 Associate professors 692 694 762 829 836 Assistant professors 759 682 692 699 733 Lecturers 0 6 0 0 7 Other 708 664 702 800 900 Subtotal 3,590 3,348 3,589 3,861 4,025 Research assistants Full-time assistants 833 803 892 947 1,038 Part-time assistants 73 39 30 45 67 Graduate students 8,901 8,563 9,088 9,692 9,779 Subtotal 9,807 9,405 10,010 10,684 10,884 Total 13,397 12,753 13,599 14,545 14,909 1 2016 data is to February 5, 2016. (1) New coating process and development of functional textiles A l t hough t he weav i ng i ndus t r y i s o f t en considered a sunset industry in Taiwan, new technologies developed in recent years have injected renewed vitality into this traditional industry. A research team from the Department of Molecular Science, National Taipei Institute of Technology established the "Functional Fabric Membrane Coating Process and Coated Material R&D Center," which is actively collaborating with domestic weaving and chemical material companies in resolving commercial coating problems and enhancing the added value of Taiwan's textile products, and the establishment of this center has increased the profits of participating firms by more than 20%. The center has recently focused on the following four major R&D topics: (a) development of PU-type coating materials, (b) multifunctional rotary cutter fabric applications, (c) dipping & slot-die techniques, and (d) the sprinkle coating technique, and has made numerous new product and new process development breakthroughs. Support for Academic Research Ministry of Science and Technology 33