Bridging Borders for Net-Zero: Highlights from the 2026 NTU-UG Joint Seminar on Energy & Mobility

Date: March 23–26, 2026
Location: National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE), National Taiwan University (NTU)

Solving global energy and mobility challenges takes cooperation across borders. Recently, the E3 Center proudly hosted the 2026 NTU-UG Joint Seminar—a four-day exchange program funded by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) of Taiwan and the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

Hosted in collaboration with the Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) Division of NTU's Department of Civil Engineering and the University of Groningen (UG), this event brought together teams led by Dr. I-Yun Lisa Hsieh (NTU E3 Center) and Dr. Xin Sun (UG ESRIG). Centered on "Systematic Solutions for Sustainable Energy and Mobility Systems," the seminar gathered experts and young scholars to chart a course for future research.

Exploring the Big Ideas

The seminar featured inspiring talks from a distinguished lineup of international speakers, covering a wide range of forward-looking topics:

• Digital Decarbonization & Global Responsibility: On the first day, Professor Shang-Hsien Hsieh discussed using "Digital Twins"—virtual models of real-world systems—to track carbon emissions in engineering. Following this, Professor Klaus Hubacek explored how global supply chains impact inequality, prompting a deep discussion on how countries should fairly share the responsibility for carbon reduction.
• Sustainable Mobility & Logistics: Dr. Xin Sun shared his team's work on tracking critical materials for electric vehicles using big data. Dr. Franco Ruzzenenti added a unique perspective, explaining how making transportation models too complex might actually reduce their efficiency.
• Energy Infrastructure & AI Governance: Professor Wided Medjroubi provided a hands-on look at modeling hybrid energy systems. Additionally, Professor Lili Jia from Cambridge University joined to share how AI tools can be used to make corporate carbon reporting more transparent and accountable.

Building Connections Beyond the Lab

While the research sessions were intensive, the seminar was also about building human connections. During a cultural excursion to Dadaocheng and Dihua Street, students from both universities had the chance to step away from their research and connect in a more relaxed historic setting.

The event also provided a great stage for the next generation. Over the four days, 14 young scholars gave presentations. On the final day, a vibrant cross-disciplinary poster session featured creative topics like "Sustainable Beer Production" and "Gym Power Generation," bringing sustainable thinking into everyday life over a casual pizza lunch.

Looking Ahead

We are incredibly grateful to our colleagues from the ESRIG at the University of Groningen for traveling so far to join us, as well as to the professors who joined online in the early hours of the European morning to share their expertise.

The formal presentations may be over, but this four-day exchange is just the beginning. At the E3 Center and NTU Civil Engineering, we look forward to turning these shared insights into real-world, net-zero solutions through our ongoing international partnerships.