STUST has once again achieved remarkable success in innovation and entrepreneurship education! The Source Power entrepreneurial team, incubated through the USR project “Storing Carbon and Conserving Fisheries,” stood out in the innovative service category of the Ministry of Education's Youth Development Administration's 115th U-start Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program with its pioneering "Smart Water Quality Sensing Unmanned Boat" solution. The team secured NT$500,000 in initial entrepreneurial funding. This outstanding achievement not only demonstrates the university's strong entrepreneurial incubation capabilities but also highlights the team’s innovative drive in applying cross-disciplinary knowledge to address challenges in the local aquaculture industry.

【Director You-ren Chen (first from right) of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Center at STUST, also the host of the USR project “Storing Carbon and Conserving Fisheries,” is pictured with students from the Source Powerteam (from left): Wei-han Chen, Kai-shun Chen, and Zi-shuan Yang.】

The Source Power team consists of students Wei-han Chen, Kai-shun Chen, and Zi-shuan Yang. Their entrepreneurial idea was inspired by their long-term involvement in the USR project “Storing Carbon and Conserving Fisheries,” which included field visits to fish ponds along the coast of Tainan. During these visits, they observed the time-consuming and labor-intensive challenges that fish farmers face in managing water quality. Drawing on their studies in green energy and smart technology at the university, they developed a "Smart Water Quality Sensing Unmanned Boat" equipped with sensors. This boat can autonomously navigate fish ponds and instantly transmit critical water quality data—such as temperature, pH level, and dissolved oxygen—via the Internet of Things. It also includes a remote early warning function, helping farmers monitor changes in water quality in real time and respond proactively, thereby significantly improving the efficiency and convenience of aquaculture management.

【Design drawing of the Smart Water Quality Sensing Unmanned Boat developed by the Source Power entrepreneurial team from STUST】

Director You-ren Chen of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Center at STUST, who is also the host of the “Storing Carbon and Conserving Fisheries” USR project, noted that the program is now in its third year. It encourages students to identify problems through fieldwork and use their acquired knowledge to devise solutions. The success of the Source Power team is a prime example of how the local engagement of the USR program can be combined with student innovation. By adopting an entrepreneurial model, the university transforms social responsibility into concrete action that supports the long-term development of local industries.

【The “Storing Carbon and Conserving Fisheries” USR team from STUST conducted in-depth field investigations in Tainan’s fish ponds. Through direct interaction with fish farmers, they identified industry pain points, which inspired entrepreneurial ideas and bridged the gap between social responsibility and sustainable local management.】

President Neng-fu Huang of STUST emphasized that the university continues to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and resource integration through the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Center. The aim is to strengthen students’ cross-disciplinary entrepreneurial skills while actively seeking project subsidies from the Ministry of Education. Under the guidance of the “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Program for Colleges and Universities,” the Source Power team accumulated practical experience through micro-courses in entrepreneurial practice, campus competitions, and simulation platforms, ultimately earning recognition from the U-start program.

Looking ahead, the Source Power team will move into the Southern Taiwan Science Park Incubation Center at STUST, where they will receive additional incubation resources and technical verification support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Small and Medium Enterprise Administration and the broader Southern Taiwan Science Park ecosystem. The university will continue to uphold its mission of advancing industry through technology and serving society through innovation, fulfilling its role in university social responsibility and building a sustainable future in partnership with the local community.