N&M Leads Cross-Sector Innovation: Integrating Silicon Photonics into Smart Textiles

To advance the development of an ecosystem for silicon photonic sensing in smart textile applications, N&M recently led a delegation of over 20 experts from the Feng Chia University Alumni Association（FCUAA）, the Net Zero Resilient Supply Chain Alliance (OSCRA), and the Hsinchu City Managers Association to visit the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI). The delegation, warmly welcomed by TTRI President Dr. K.C. Lee, was impressed by TTRI’s decades of experience in textile technology and its continuous leadership in material innovation and application transformation—recognizing it as a vital force in positioning Taiwan’s smart textile industry on the global stage.

In his remarks, Dr. Lee noted that the future of textiles lies in sensing, healthcare, and sustainable materials. He emphasized that collaborating with high-tech sensing teams like N&M is a strong example of effective cross-sector integration.

N&M Chairman Rone Chiu expressed appreciation for TTRI’s long-standing efforts in promoting textile innovation and emphasized that the convergence of photonics and textiles will usher in the next generation of wearable technologies. With expertise in miniaturized, low-power, and high-sensitivity SiPh sensing, N&M aims to co-develop commercial-ready innovations such as smart sportswear for health monitoring and phototherapy-enabled garments in partnership with TTRI’s robust material and application research.

Chairman Chiu called on industry, academia, and researchers to co-create a locally grounded, globally competitive innovation platform for smart textiles with functions of sensing and wealth care. This initiative seeks to showcase Taiwan’s leadership in integrating semiconductors and textiles and to drive the global advancement of smart wearable solutions.

This visit not only demonstrated N&M’s proactive role in cross-sector collaboration but also deepened its commitment to expanding its smart textile sensing application roadmap. Moving forward, N&M will continue to play its core advantages in silicon photonic sensing and collaborate with local R&D teams and application partners to accelerate commercialization and strengthen Taiwan’s position in the global smart health and sensing ecosystem.