Cheng Shiu University and Indonesia’s Leading TIC Institution MUTU International Launch Taiwan-Indonesia Joint Research Center on Environmental Toxicology and Emerging Contaminants

On May 23, Cheng Shiu University will join hands with Indonesia’s largest private testing, inspection, and certification company—MUTU International (PT Mutuagung Lestari Tbk.)—to inaugurate the Taiwan-Indonesia Joint Research Center for Environmental Toxicology and Emerging Contaminants in Jakarta. The signing ceremony will be attended by Vice President Dr. Yen-Yi Lee of Cheng Shiu University and Chairman Arifin Lembaga of MUTU International, marking a significant milestone in cross-border collaboration in environmental science. It also signals a new phase of Taiwan’s higher education engagement in Southeast Asia, aligning academia and industry to tackle global environmental challenges.

This joint center is established under Cheng Shiu University's Higher Education Sprout Project (Part II: Research Centers in Specialized Fields), supported by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. The university’s Center for Environmental Toxicology and Emerging Contaminants (Environmental Center) has been actively advancing international exchange and technology transfer to address emerging global needs.

As a critical partner in Indonesia’s environmental transformation, MUTU International began cooperation with Cheng Shiu University in 2022. From July 31 to August 4, 2023, four of MUTU’s laboratory supervisors and R&D specialists received professional training in Taiwan. The training covered cutting-edge topics including Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in seawater, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) analysis. All participants successfully completed the program and were awarded certificates. In September 2023, senior MUTU executives visited Cheng Shiu University to sign an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), laying the foundation for a long-term strategic partnership.

The unveiling and signing ceremony on May 23 in Jakarta will be led by Vice President Dr. Yen-Yi Lee, accompanied by Dr. Woody Ko, Deputy Director of International Affairs, and members of the Environmental Center. The day’s program includes a welcome reception at 8:30 a.m., followed by the MOU signing, plaque unveiling, and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Chairman Arifin Lembaga of MUTU International will attend to witness this key milestone in Taiwan-Indonesia academic and industrial collaboration.

Founded in 1990, MUTU International has become a leader in Indonesia’s TIC (Testing, Inspection, and Certification) industry through its outstanding service quality. This partnership allows Cheng Shiu University to share its extensive expertise in environmental detection and laboratory technology with the Indonesian market. The university will assist MUTU in establishing advanced laboratories and enhancing professional capacity in emerging contaminant testing and environmental management.

“This cross-border collaboration is not only a practical action uniting academia and industry to address environmental challenges,” said Vice President Lee, “but also an important step in expanding Taiwan’s higher education influence abroad. We will continue to build international academic-industry alliances and actively participate in global conversations on sustainability, contributing meaningfully to the future of our planet.”