Amid the government’s vigorous promotion of the Greater South New Silicon Valley Promotion Program, STUST has demonstrated remarkable cross-domain integration. Leveraging the strong research and development capabilities and forward-looking vision of seven departments across three colleges—including the College of Business Administration (Departments of Hospitality Management, Marketing and Logistics Management, and Information Management), the College of Engineering (Departments of Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering), and the College of Smart Health (Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology)—STUST successfully secured three grants under the 2025 Smart Rainforest Industry Creation Subsidy Program – Smart Catering Demonstration Case. This remarkable achievement makes STUST the university with the highest number of funded projects in this category nationwide. It not only cements STUST’s leading role in smart catering R&D and cross-disciplinary industry-academia collaboration but also serves as a model for the digital transformation of Taiwan’s catering industry. Furthermore, it paves the way for students to seamlessly connect with future job markets.

【AI Fuels the Future of Catering—STUST Leads the Way in the Greater South! President Neng-fu Huang (center), Dean Ren-peng Huang (third from right) of the College of Business Administration, Chair Jia-sheng Yeh (second from left) of the Department of Hospitality Management, Chair Ya-ling Tsai of the Department of Marketing and Logistics Management (first from right), along with faculty members Guo-ning Liu (first from left) and Xu-yi Huang (second from right) from the Department of Hospitality Management, proudly showcased STUST’s exceptional success in winning three cases in the Smart Rainforest Catering Project. The collaboration between the Department of Hospitality Management and the Department of Marketing and Logistics Management brought the university to the forefront, strongly supporting the comprehensive advancement of the Greater South industry.】

The Smart Rainforest Industry Creation Subsidy Program—Smart Catering Demonstration Case, jointly promoted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the National Science Council, is an important part of the Greater Southern New Silicon Valley Promotion Program. It aims to drive the digital transformation of the catering industry in the southern region (Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung) through AI technology, improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and promote innovative business models. This plan has clear goals and hopes to drive regional economic growth through the close connection between academic research and industry, and form a diffuse AI industry ecosystem for the commercial service industry. The outstanding performance of STUST this time is a strong response to the core goal of this plan.

南STUST stood out in this national selection, with all three of its awarded projects featuring interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and close cooperation with leading industry partners. These projects demonstrate not only high practical application value but also strong future development potential. Among them, the WU WHA MA AI Smart Catering Next Generation Store – Greater South Demonstration Project, in partnership with the well-known restaurant chain WU WHA MA International Co., Ltd., aims to develop a more efficient and intelligent future store operation model. In addition, STUST has partnered with Four-leaf International Channel Integration Co., Ltd. and Taipei University of Technology to co- develop the Smart Catering: AI Assistance and Decision-Making System, which uses AI to provide precise decision-making support and enhance management efficiency in the foodservice sector. Another project, the Hi-Lai Food Smart Catering AI Application Demonstration Project, developed in collaboration with catering giant Hi-Lai Foods Co., Ltd., focuses on implementing AI voice reservation technology in front-end customer service, as well as innovative kitchen waste reduction strategies for sustainable operations. This project also includes joint efforts with Jingwen University of Science and Technology and Soochow University.

These three projects collectively encompass a wide range of smart technology applications—including AI-assisted decision-making, voice reservation systems, AI- powered ordering and delivery, intelligent store operations, and production management—as well as environmentally sustainable practices like kitchen waste reduction. More than just a technological upgrade, these initiatives represent a profound exploration into the future development model of the catering industry. Jia-sheng Yeh, Chair of the Department of Hospitality Management at STUST, noted that securing all three subsidies independently is a testament to the university’s forward-thinking approach and robust R&D capabilities in smart catering. It further reinforces STUST’s position as a trailblazer in the industry’s digital transformation. These projects also offer students valuable opportunities for practical training and internships that are directly aligned with real industry needs. On campus, students can engage in cutting-edge applications of AI, witnessing firsthand how such technologies are deployed to resolve critical challenges in the field—thus nurturing well-rounded talents equipped for the future of AI-integrated hospitality and tourism.

In recent years, the Department of Hospitality Management at STUST has strategically focused on three core pillars: smart catering, sustainable management, and cross-domain innovation. The department has proactively introduced advanced technologies such as AI, IoT (Internet of Things), and data analytics, integrating them deeply with traditional strengths like culinary expertise, exceptional service, and operational efficiency. The successful approval of these three subsidy cases reflects the department’s commitment to its integrated education model, significantly enhancing students’ employability and competitiveness in the smart catering sector.

President Neng-fu Huang of STUST emphasized that, as AI technology rapidly evolves, the catering industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation—and universities have a critical role to play. STUST will continue to invest in resources and strengthen collaboration with industry partners, not only to deliver innovative solutions for the sector but also to create more hands-on learning opportunities for students. The goal is to cultivate future leaders in hospitality who possess both digital literacy and interdisciplinary integration capabilities. President Huang warmly invites all students passionate about smart hospitality and eager to stay at the forefront of industry innovation to join the Department of Hospitality Management at STUST, and together, shape a smarter future for the catering world.