Innovation and R&D

Innovation and R&D

Positioning ourselves as a “high-quality space creator”, Acter not only continuously advances our core green engineering business but also proactively engages in research and development in innovative technologies to drive new revenue growth and momentum. We have enhanced our competitiveness and that of our customers, serving as critical infrastructure for long-term operations. Integrating the circular economy concept, we are dedicated to reducing environmental impacts in engineering and construction processes, while striving to achieve a balance between industrial development and environmental protection, thus promoting sustainable impacts on human life and the natural environment.

Internally, to motivate employees to courageously pursue innovation, we have established a proposal incentive system. Externally, we have jointly established a green supply chain with our customers and subcontractors to embody green innovation. Meanwhile, we collaborate with academia to nurture talent and embody the corporate spirit of “continuous innovation” from within. Through training programs, we have enhanced engineers’ design abilities, quality and efficiency, thereby improving overall project management skills. This enables us to swiftly adapt to rapid market changes and facilitate quicker, more precise, and competitive project implementation. In 2023, Acter's R&D investment totals NT$370,516,000, representing 1.47% of total revenue.
 

Technology patent development
  • Analyze industry and technology trends to identify R&D items that can facilitate corporate or industrial development and have market value. Strategically deploy resources to continuously obtain patents for core engineering technologies.
Energy-saving technology development
  • Continue researching and developing engineering technology and products related to environmental protection. Enhance the energy efficiency of consumption products, integrate them with intelligent systems, and optimize control processes.
Biotechnology industry research
  • Engage in the development of innovative biotechnology pharmaceutical projects within the framework of SIA (System Impact Assessment) to ensure compliance with certification criteria and international accreditation standards.
Industry-academia cooperation and talent cultivation
  • Maintain collaborations with Taipei Tech, YunTech, NKUST, NCUT, and FCU to foster innovation breakthroughs.
  • In 2023, collaborated with Taipei Tech to develop the Digital Twin technology and its applications for HVAC systems using building information systems and simulation technology for research and technological advancement.
Expenditure Over the years (Unite: NTD1,000)

2019年 2020年 2021年 2022年 2023年
R&D Expenditure 146,433 181,177 207,367 334,495 370,516
Proportion to Revenue 1.16% 1.3% 1.03% 1.18% 1.47%

Note:      To ensure consistency with the annual report, the R&D expenditure mainly comprises expenses derived from the Group’s development plan for special/innovative engineering methods, patent acquisitions, and academic research and development plans. Other engineering project improvements and participation in industry associations/organizations are disclosed in the chapters of the sustainability report.

Leading Technology

25patents

new patented technologies

(4 software copyrights)

28 patents

Cumulative development of
special/innovative engineering methods

The industry spans across ice storage and energy saving, high-rise buildings, biotechnology,
Green energy and clean room and other fields

Acter has been playing a pioneering role in the industry with our "multi-industrial, multi-disciplinary, and multi-regional" development strategy, while adhering to green engineering management principles. Through talent optimization techniques, we have helped customers accelerate the adoption of green engineering and promote eco-friendly concepts across the supply chain. Our aim is to exceed stakeholders' expectations while balancing economic, social, and environmental development to contribute to industrial progress.

In terms of professional skills, through the expansion of our high-tech business, we have analyzed our overall design abilities and project execution experiences to continuously improve professional design capabilities. During the construction phase, we have also applied 3D visualization and information technology simulation systems to optimize construction schedules and enhance engineering quality and efficiency. Up to 2023, Acter has cumulatively developed 28 special/innovative engineering methods, obtained 4 patented technologies, and secured 12 new development technologies.

List of special/innovative engineering methods or techniques
Category Special or innovative engineering methods and techniques.
Ice-storage energy-saving engineering
  • Use a raft-based ice-storage system to transfer peak loads.
  • Store the cooling water in the fire cistern to reduce the used space and contractual capacity.
High-rise building
  • The ultra-cold air system can reduce the area covered by pipelines.
  • A 42-floor building for multiple uses.
Special engineering
  • Integrated technology for hospitals with SARS negative pressure isolation equipment.
  • The Ministry’s bio-chemical laboratories.
  • Integrated engineering technology for the input of the entire tobacco factory.
  • Integrated electromechanical engineering technology for weaving and dyeing factory.
Biotechnological engineering
  • Integrated technology for the first H1N1 vaccine plant.
  • Integrated engineering technology for the cleanrooms of cGMP factory (Note 1).
  • Integrated engineering methods for professional biopharmaceutical (cordyceps sinensis) manufacturing plant
  • Integrated energy-saving electromechanical technology for biochemical equipment factories.
  • Integrated engineering technology for GTP cleanroom (Note 2).
  • Transnational output of integrated electromechanical technology for food/cGMP factories.
  • Integrated energy-saving electromechanical technology for poultry holding and processing factories.
  • Integrated technology that allows manufacturing sites to freely switch to a positive or negative pressure-environment depending on the product feature.
  • Integrated engineering technology for high toxic OEB5 injection plant (Note 3).
Green energy engineering Integrated engineering method for the supply of solar energy.
Cleanroom turn-key engineering
  • Innovative engineering method for the first PDP mass production factory (Note 4).
  • Innovative engineering method for Japanese polarizer manufacturers.
  • Innovative engineering method for TFT manufacturers (Note 5).
  • Special engineering methods for the 6" silicon wafer fab turn-key service under the cooperation with SONY (Japan).
  • Innovative engineering methods for Taiwan’s second largest assembly house.
  • Innovative engineering methods for the whole-plant electromechanical integration of module factory.
  • Innovative engineering method for FPCB factories (Note 6).
  • Innovation method for the integrated export of component factories in Japan.
  • Innovative engineering method for electromechanical integration of PEC manufacturers.
  • Innovative engineering method for the microenvironment of semiconductor device washing factory.

Note 1:     cGMP refers to current Good Manufacturing Practice, which are pharmaceutical production regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in response to global trends in pharmaceutical production.
Note 2:     GTP refers to Good Tissue Practice, which specifies the requirements for high-class clean laboratories in the production of various pharmaceutical preparations for clinical trials.
Note 3:     OEB refers to Occupational Exposure Band. OEB5 (with an exposure limit of < 1μg/m3) provides a high level of operator safety.
Note 4:     PDP refers to Plasma Display Panel.
Note 5:     TFT refers to Thin-Film Transistor.
Note 6:  PCB refers to Printed Circuit Board.

 Intellectual Property Patents of 2023
  • Full-automatic wet-process equipment with single-batch four-flower basket synchronous operation
  • Anti-bubble high-stability refractometer
  • Novel full-automatic electronic-grade chemical tank filling assembly line system
  • ITO oxalic acid powder dust removal device
  • Bag filter holder for wastewater treatment
  • Novel front and rear oscillating mechanism
  • Cleanroom intake structure
  • Novel inline chemical concentration measuring device
  • Filter structure
  • 200L automatic palletizing and handling equipment
  • Cleanroom air duct installation equipment
  • Novel array developer concentration dilution and control system
  • Wet dust exhaust device for polishing machine
  • Process tank flow field test device
  • Positioning structure of fixed-angle selective compliance wafer conveying mechanical arm
  • Automatic loading and unloading module for fool-proof vehicles
  • Photoresist mixing and filtering supply equipment
  • Novel acid barrel joint device for chemical recycling system
  • Automatic chemical filling equipment
  • Novel fully automatic equipment for cleaning electronic chemical drum accessories
  • 200L barrel automatic conveying line equipment
  • Control devices and equipment
  • Novel TMAH developer regeneration and concentration management system
  • Flow control switch
  • Novel butterfly cleaning tank cover
  • Detection system and detection device
  • Alternative pure water high pressure spray cleaning system
  • Gas cabinet
  • Adjustable air bubble detection device
Software copyright
  • R&D in an up-down swinging mechanism that controls rotation
  • R&D in an anti-bubble high-stability refractometer
  • R&D in a type of valve box for the slurry supply system
  • R&D in a rapid connection device for the slurry supply system
  • R&D in full-automatic 4L chemical barrel cleaning equipment
  • R&D in a novel manually adjusted ball-valve locking device

Outlook for Research and Development

Upholding the philosophy of professionalism and innovation, Acter continuously enhances our expertise to create differentiation while establishing advantages. We have been developing green innovative technologies and implementing an environmental management system based on four directions: “technology patent development”, “energy-saving technology development”, “biotechnology industry research” and “industry-academia cooperation and talent cultivation”. Our goal is to strive for economical and accessible eco-friendly, energy-saving solutions to seize opportunities for innovation and assist industries in heading towards the transformation to net-zero emissions for sustainability. Meanwhile, we have established industry-academia alliances and cooperation, and implemented plans to cultivate young talent. This allows us to actively exchange knowledge with industry associations and organizations, stay up-to-date with the latest industry information, and enhance our internal occupational training program. We will continue to innovate our technological development and boost momentum to become long-term and reliable partners for our customers.