ABOUT SATEC

The inaugural biennial Sino-American Technology and Engineering Conference (SATEC) took place in June 1993 in Beijing, China with the goal of raising the levels of science and technology in China, particularly the level of technological reform at Chinese enterprises. It was co-sponsored mainly by the Chinese Institute of Engineers – USA (CIE-USA) and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) in the State Council of PRC. The planning effort started in 1991 with support from the Premier LI Peng (1991) and the Premier ZHU Rongji (1992–1993).

The Dream of SATEC

It is well known that Taiwan’s Electronic Research and Service Organization / Industrial Technology Research Institute (ESRO/ITRI) was formed in 1973 as a result of three Modern Engineering and Technology Seminars (METS). IC process and design technology transfer agreement between RCA, where Dr. Wen-Yuan Pan (潘文淵) acted as director, and ITRI was signed in 1975. A pilot plant for integrated circuit was established within ITRI in 1977. United Microelectronics Corporation was spun off from ITRI in 1980. Dr. Morris Chang (張忠謀), who received the CIE distinguished achievement award in 1984, returned to Taiwan in 1985 to take charge of ITRI, and TSMC, the world’s largest OEM IC foundry, was spun off from ITRI in 1987. From 1973 to 1993, CIE-USA provided a major platform to connect its members with Taiwan’s technology industry, and contributed to the creation of ITRI and many start-ups in Hsinchu Science Park. In 1993, a breakthrough with the manufacturing of 8-inch silicon wafers marked Taiwan as a semiconductor manufacturing powerhouse.

Challenges and Controversies

Across the Straight, Chinese officials also witnessed the key roles that CIE-USA played on Taiwan’s technology advancement and economic development, and became interested in collaborating with CIE after the State High-Tech Development Plan (863 Program) was established in March 1986. However, the intent of building a formal and long-term relationship with China stirred a heated debate within CIE-USA after the Tiananmen Square incident. Despite the political challenges and economic uncertainties, members of CIE’s National Council managed to work out their differences and reached the consensus of organizing a METS-like conference with China.

A Path Forward

In partnership with the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) and the State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC), CIE-USA began to develop the Sino-American Technology and Engineering Conference (SATEC) in the early 1990s. Dr. Wen-Yuan Pan (潘文 淵) was invited to visit China in 1991 and met with Premier Peng Li. In January 1992, CIE-NY president Dr. Janpu Hou (侯展璞) and vice president Dr. Hui-Hwui Chin (陳幼慧) met with SAFEA administrator Junru Ma (馬俊如) in Beijing to discuss the organization of SATEC. In March 1992, SAFEA administrator Junru Ma (馬俊如) visited CIE-USA in New York to discuss the development of a pilot SATEC program. The vice minister of China’s State Science and Technology Commission, Nan Deng (鄧楠), also came to New York to share her view on China’s technology development roadmap so that SATEC can be organized accordingly

The Start of SATEC

A pilot SATEC program was implemented in June 1992, with CIE-NY president Janpu Hou (侯 展璞) leading a 9-member delegation to Beijing and meeting with vice premier Rongji Zhu. The CIE delegation then visited the Sichuan Province to understand local needs and solve practical problems. Finally with a focus on key technological fields identified by the 863 Program, the first SATEC was inaugurated in 1993.

Hosting Organizations

Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic Of China

Chinese Institute of Engineering – USA

American Society of Mechanical Engineering

Canadian Society for Civil Engineering

Past SATEC

SATEC 2018

CHAIR Rong Chang

VICE-CHAIR Jason Wen

SECRETARY Yew-Huey Liu

ADMINISTRATOR Kejian Liu

                  • Advanced Materials
                  • Green City
                  • Smart Robotics
                  • Bio Engineering
                  • Smart Water
                  • Smart Coal

SATEC 2016

CHAIR Qing Zhao

VICE-CHAIR Rong Chang

SECRETARY Thomas Wu

ADMINISTRATOR Jason Wen

              • Service Oriented Manufacturing
              • Green Manufacturing
              • New Energy Vehicles
              • Green City
              • Sponge City
              • Intelligent Robots
              • Coal Chemical Industry Transformation & Upgrading

SATEC 2014

CHAIR James Lee

VICE-CHAIR Qing Zhao

SECRETARY Gina Li

ADMINISTRATOR Rong Chang

            • Business Aircraft Development

            • Big Data

            • Semi-Conductor

            • Aquatic Ecological Construction

            • Green City

            • Cross-Straits Engineering Technology Symposium

            • Advanced Manufacturing

SATEC 2012

CHAIR David Fong

VICE-CHAIR James Lee

SECRETARY Larry Wang

ADMINISTRATOR Qng Zhao

                • Low Carbon Industry
                • Mining Area Management
                • Information Technology
                • Green City
                • Advanced Manufacturing

SATEC 2010

CHAIR Kuo-Kuang Hsu

VICE-CHAIR David Fong

SECRETARY Allen Chen

ADMINISTRATOR James Lee

                • Advanced Manufacturing
                • Biomedical Engineering
                • Software Engineering
                • Modern Information Service Technology
                • Environmental Engineering
                • Green City

SATEC 2006

CHAIR Ray R. Chen

VICE-CHAIR Kuo-Kuang Hsu

SECRETARY David Fong

ADMINISTRATOR Yung Sung Cheng

                • Advanced Manufacturing
                • Environmental Engineering
                • Communication Technology
                • Computer & Software Engineering
                • Microelectronics

SATEC 2003

Location

CHAIR Wen Lin

VICE-CHAIR Ray R. Chen

SECRETARY Kuo-Kuang Hsu

ADMINISTRATOR Andy Liu

              • Computer & Software Engineering
              • Optoelectronics & Communications
              • Digital Electronics
              • Mechanical Engineering
              • Petrochemical & Chemical Engineering
              • Pharmaceuticals & Bioengineering
              • Material Science

SATEC 2001

CHAIR Wen Lin

VICE-CHAIR Ray R. Chen

SECRETARY Kuo-Kuang Hsu

ADMINISTRATOR Andy Liu

              • Computer & Software Engineering
              • Optoelectronics & Communications
              • Digital Electronics
              • Mechanical Engineering
              • Petrochemical & Chemical Engineering
              • Pharmaceuticals & Bioengineering
              • Environmental Protection & Re-manufacturing
              • Pharmaceuticals & Bioengineering
              • Material Science

SATEC 1999

CHAIR Chaio Yeh

VICE-CHAIR Edward Teng

SECRETARYWen Lin

ADMINISTRATOR Thomas Wu

              • Home Appliances
              • Electrical Engineering
              • Computer & Software Engineering
              • Electronics Manufacturing
              • Petrochemical & Chemical Engineering
              • Pharmaceuticals & Bioengineering
              • Material Sciences
              • Metallurgy
              • Environmental Engineering
              • Communication

SATEC 1997

CHAIR Johnson Lin

VICE-CHAIR Chiao Yeh

SECRETARY Thomas Wu

ADMINISTRATOR Edward Teng

            • Computer Networking & Software Engineering
            • Biomedical Engineering
            • Metallurgy
            • Manufacture & Automation
            • Environmental Engineering
            • Petrochemical and Chemical Industry
            • Microelectronics & Optoelectronics
            • Energy
            • Communications

SATEC 1995

CHAIR Sun-Nan Hong

VICE-CHAIR Ming-Gee Hsia

SECRETARY Chiao Yeh

ADMINISTRATOR Johnson Lin

            • Mechanical Engineering
            • Biomedical Engineering
            • Metallurgy
            • Modern Enterprise Management
            • Microelectronics Applications & Software Engineering
            • Transportation
            • Industrial Automation
            • Aviation Aerospace
            • Public Works
            • Optoelectronics & Telecommunications
            • Energy & Environment
            • Petrochemicals

SATEC 1993

CHAIR Hong-Chiu Chen

VICE-CHAIR Keh-Shew Lu

SECRETARY Min-Gee Hsia

ADMINISTRATOR Janpu Hou

            • Microelectronics & Software Engineering
            • Industrial Automation
            • Aerospace
            • Public Works
            • Optoelectronics & Communications
            • Energy & Environment
            • Transportation
            • Petrochemicals & Chemicals