On June 18, i2i Chairman Gary Gong led a delegation to visit the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab (MIT Media Lab) in Boston, USA. The visit aimed to exchange insights on the latest global technology trends and explore innovative synergies between Taiwan and the United States.
The visit was organized and hosted by Michael Lin, Director of the City Science Lab Asia at MIT Media Lab. The agenda included a tour of the E14 Fund, along with presentations on cutting-edge research from the Biomechatronics Lab, Conformable Decoders Lab, and City Science Lab.
The delegation took a group photo with Director Michael Lin (fifth from the left).
E14 Fund at MIT Media Lab
The session, led by Habib Haddad, Managing Director of the E14 Fund, covered the fund's operating model and its crucial role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The E14 Fund was born out of MIT's Media Lab and is dedicated to fostering the entrepreneurial community at MIT through campus-wide initiatives and resources. Profits generated by the fund are reinvested back into MIT.
The fund's core investment program offers funding ranging from $1 million to $5 million for pre-seed to Series A startups, typically between $500,000 and $2 million. Additionally, the Fellowship Investment Program provides up to $250,000 in uncapped, no-discount Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFE) investments, with funding amounts generally between $50,000 and $100,000.
The E14 Fund also offers entrepreneurial advisory services to students, playing a vital role in driving innovation and entrepreneurship at the Media Lab.
E14 Fund introduction.
Biomechatronics Lab
Led by Research Assistant Tsung-Han Hsieh, the Biomechatronics Lab showcased its advancements in robotics technology.
The lab's founding professor, who lost both legs in a mountaineering accident, is driven by the belief that "people are not disabled, technology is." The lab focuses on developing mechanical assistive devices that enable patients to lead normal lives.
Biomechatronics Lab.
Conformable Decoders Lab
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Science and LG Career Development Professor Canan Dagdeviren, along with Postdoctoral Associate Osman Nayeem and Research Assistant Colin Marcus, presented their work on "Conformable Decoders."
This research transforms natural and physical signals from the human body into useful data and energy, developing complex interfaces to access and assess these signals.
The lab's goal is to create micrometer- and nanometer-scale electromechanical systems with adaptive mechanical functions, opening new possibilities for future technological applications.
Conformable Decoders Lab.
City Science Lab
Kent Larson, Professor of the Practice and Director of the City Science Lab, along with Research Scientist and Director of City Science Lab Asia, Michael Lin, introduced the lab's research vision.
Their work focuses on developing intelligent transportation systems and smart city designs that not only have a profound academic impact but also practical applications, advancing the field of global city science.
Professor Kent Larson introducing City Science Lab.
Outlook for MIT Media Lab and Taiwan-US Collaboration
In May, i2i Chairman Gary Gong led a delegation to visit the City Science Lab @ Taipei Tech, a collaboration between Taipei Tech and MIT, to discuss global technology and innovative outcomes between Taiwan and the US.
This visit to MIT Media Lab headquarters in the US aims to deepen exchanges and foster future collaborative models, strengthening technology exchanges between Taiwan and the US and injecting new energy into domestic innovation.
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