Pathways to Becoming a Space Talent
This project is open to local and overseas students, cultivating them as internationally capable space elites. The learning path is divided into four stages, and students are encouraged to follow these steps to gradually become space elites:
- Pre-course: In cooperation with space-related departments of universities, targeting third-year students and above in relevant fields. Industry experts are introduced to provide guidance on the course structure, offering foundational knowledge about low-orbit satellite ground equipment or practical enterprise topics.
- Design Practice: Conducting an "International Training Camp" with international instructors and teaching materials to train talents in system integration design knowledge and hands-on practice.
- R&D Practice: Companies release space (satellite) R&D projects, and university students are encouraged to participate in research during the summer, enhancing their problem-solving and hands-on capabilities.
1. It is recommended that a first-level unit of the university act as the unified focal point.
2. It is recommended that universities grant internship credits equivalent to the acceptance of the space elite.
3. Conduct internal selection work and recommend local graduates and undergraduates (junior year and above) to apply; overseas students (excluding students from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau) from junior year and above are also eligible (excluding graduates).
4. Agree for students to participate in activities organized by this project, such as talent matching and R&D presentations, during their studies, to showcase their participation in space R&D as a means of marketing and exposure for university admissions.
Research and Development Internship: Eligibility for Application
Please refer to the application guide for each year. For 2025, the internship period is from July 1st to September 30th.
Universities and colleges recognized by the Ministry of Education of Taiwan can recommend and confirm students from the third year and above, as well as master’s and doctoral students to apply for this project.
I. Domestic Students
An applicant must meet at least two of the following criteria:
- must hold Taiwan (R.O.C.) citizenship;
- is student in the third year of study or higher (including Masters and PhD) in fall semester 2025 (excluding in-service students); no specific major requirement;
- graduate of 2025, and must obtain graduation certificate by August 31, 2025 (male students must have completed military service or meet exemption criteria), excluding in-service students.
II. Overseas Chinese and International Students
An applicant must meet all of the following criteria:
- is an international or overseas Chinese student who holds valid Alien Resident Card (ARC); *Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao students are not eligible for this program.
- must maintain full-time student status from the time of application to participation in the program;
- is student in the third year of study or higher (including Masters and PhD) in fall semester 2025 (excluding in-service students); no specific major requirement;
- graduate of 2025 for Master’s or PhD degrees, no specific major requirement; One should finish the required hours of the internship and retain the student status by August 31th, 2025.
- must hold a valid work permit from July 1st to September 30th, 2025. The application process for work permits should be in accordance with the regulations of each university. Please contact the international student affairs office of each university for details.
- Domestic Students
Yes, one can apply as long as they hold Taiwanese (R.O.C.) citizenship and a certificate of enrollment. - Overseas Chinese and International Students
Yes, one can apply as long as they hold valid Alien Resident Card (ARC) and a certificate of enrollment.; *Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao students are not eligible for this program. In addition, one must hold a valid work permit from July 1st to September 30th ,2025. The application process for work permits should be in accordance with the regulations of each university. Please contact the international student affairs office of each university for details.
Yes, foreign and overseas students are eligible under the following conditions:
1. Must hold a valid Alien Resident Certificate and be classified as a foreign or overseas student, excluding graduates from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau.
2. Must maintain student status throughout the application and participation periods, and be enrolled in an undergraduate, master, or doctoral program at a university in Taiwan as of the first semester of the 113th academic year. In-service students are not eligible.
3. Students who are accepted must hold a valid work permit from July 1 to September 30 of the 114th year. Work permit applications should be handled according to university regulations; please contact the overseas student affairs office of the respective school.
Yes, the school or the student must provide documentation showing acceptance into a graduate program (such as an admission letter) or a declaration confirming student status. After enrollment, further proof of student status must be provided.
Yes, students interested in participating in the research and development program should register online, complete the application form, and upload relevant resume materials. The final recommendation list will be confirmed by the school's designated contact person.
Research and Development Internship: Colleges and Universities Coordination Window Recommendation
The school's centralized contact person should submit an application to the project team. Each school is allowed to apply for only one account and password. The 113th academic year's centralized contact persons should confirm (select) the list of recommended students between May 9 and May 13 through the program website registration/matching system.
No, but it is recommended that a school-level administrative unit be appointed to handle the recommendation process.
There are no restrictions on the departments or the number of students that universities can recommend.
The university focal point must complete the student recommendation list between May 9 and May 13, 113th academic year.
It is recommended that the university focal point complete the student recommendation list as early as possible. The registration system will restrict students who must meet all required fields. Currently, the file upload size limit is set to 10MB.
Selection of the Space Industry Talents
First phase: School recommendation list;
Second phase: Enterprises review the university recommendation list, perform resume matching, or students may apply proactively. Matching and exchanges are conducted one-on-one or many-to-one.
After the second-round interviews, enterprises will notify Space Elites by June 26 to complete registration. The selection status will be reflected on the system, and the final list of successful candidates will be published on the project website.
Stipend of the Space Industry Talents
1. The company-selected astronauts will participate from July 1 to September 30, 2025 (3 months in total), and must complete a minimum of 189 hours of R&D practice. Throughout the entire period, each month must include R&D hours. The program provides a total allowance of NT$36,000 for bachelor’s degree students and NT$60,000 for those with a master’s degree or higher. Other benefits will be agreed upon between the company and the selected astronaut.
2. In terms of social insurance, the company will bear the public portion, while astronauts are responsible for their personal portion. Therefore, the actual amount of the "R&D Practice Allowance" received by the astronaut is the amount after deducting personal social insurance costs.
Research and Development Internship Hours
1. Astronauts may apply to terminate R&D practice with supporting documents (e.g., medical certificate) due to unavoidable circumstances. In such cases, they do not need to return the received allowance unless specified otherwise.
2. Astronauts will have their R&D practice terminated under the following conditions:
(1) If false information is provided in the application and resume, the allowance received must be returned, and future applications for this program will be disqualified.
(2) If the astronaut is unable to adapt well, and the company applies for and approves termination of R&D practice.
3. For the above cases, the company will submit an application to the program team for termination. The R&D practice allowance will be calculated until the termination date and distributed based on the hours completed.
Other Questions
1. Key Components: Such as high-frequency/high-speed substrates, baseband chips, beamforming chips, RF (microwave/millimeter wave) related materials/components/modules, encapsulation/process materials, antenna unit materials, etc.
2. Subsystems: Such as antenna subsystems and indoor-outdoor equipment connection subsystems.
(1) Antenna Subsystem: Such as phased array antennas (e.g., liquid crystal antennas), parabolic antennas, MIMO systems, antenna packaging/module technology, antenna control units, etc.
(2) Indoor and Outdoor Equipment Connection Subsystem: Such as connectors, power supplies, routers/modems, etc.
3. System Integration Terminal: Such as user terminals, ground receiving stations, telemetry tracking and control stations, etc.
4. Others: Such as satellite body components, satellite ground equipment testing, and innovative applications (e.g., home use, automotive, aviation, maritime, or other satellite-related services).
1. The company, through a unified contact window, collects internal unit or subsidiary needs for the enterprise's space research and development and personnel requirements.
2. Depending on company needs, they can apply for up to 7 Space Elite positions for a single research and development project.
1. “Rising Stars of the Space Industry and Telecom Industry” Enterprise Application Form.
2. A photocopy of the company or business registration document. The applicant must be a company established in Taiwan, and not an offshore branch or a Mainland China-invested enterprise (based on the latest list from the Investment Commission, MOEA).
3. Recent profit tax or business tax payment certificate.
4. A bank certification proving no returned checks within the past year.
5. All application documents must be stamped with the company's seal and signed by the responsible person.
1. Review Focus
(1) Topic Content (50%): Relevance between the project content and its related field.
(2) Job Potential (40%): Relevance between the role, practical direction, and project content.
(3) Company Resource Input (10%): Additional research allowances, increased hours, or incentives to retain personnel.
2. Bonus Items
(1) Companies organizing their own training courses, showcases, or competitions may receive bonus points.
(2) Applying for a patent for outcomes derived from research and development will also earn bonus points.
1. Application Process: Companies propose their personnel requirements for space-related research.
2. Evaluation Process: The project office organizes a review committee to evaluate and approve the proposed R&D projects and personnel requirements.
3. Selection Process: Companies match and select suitable candidates from the Space Elites' resumes.
4. Reporting and Admission Process: Companies submit the list of selected candidates and notify them to complete relevant reporting procedures.
1. Enterprises must assign at least one employee as a mentor for each R&D project to assist in the selection process and subsequent R&D guidance.
2. Participate in student selection activities such as talent matching, interviews, submitting admission lists, participating in the final R&D presentation and matching exchange activities, and other activities organized by the project.
3. Notify students to complete the registration procedures and inform the project implementation team of the registration progress.
1. During the implementation period, enterprises should guide each student through the R&D project and assist in task arrangements, encouraging students to participate in learning activities organized by the project, such as technical workshops.
2. The total R&D hours for each student should reach at least 189 hours over the three-month period, with study hours recorded each month (foreign students are limited to 20 hours per week during the school term, but there are no limits during summer). Students must also submit monthly records of R&D activities, learning activities, or mentoring records in the TMS training management system.
3. At the end of the project, enterprises must recommend students to participate in the R&D presentation, showcasing the outcomes as part of the company's marketing and exposure strategy.
1. Students may terminate the R&D project due to force majeure by providing relevant proof (such as medical certificates), and they do not need to return the received subsidies, except as stipulated otherwise.
2. The following situations will result in contract termination:
(1) If personal registration or resume information is found to be false, students must return the received subsidies to the company and will not be allowed to reapply for this project.
(2) If the student fails to adapt, the enterprise may apply for termination of the R&D project, subject to approval.
3. In such cases, the enterprise must apply for termination of the R&D project with the project implementation team. The "R&D Project Termination Application Form" must be submitted at least seven working days before termination.
1. The student subsidy is calculated up to the termination date and is prorated based on the R&D hours completed.
2. If the R&D project is terminated, enterprises may apply for a replacement student:
(1) The enterprise must apply before August 31, 2025, with priority given to students on the waiting list.
(2) If the waiting list does not meet the project requirements, replacements may be selected from students recommended by universities.
(3) Replacement applications must be reviewed by the project team, and subsidies must not overlap. The R&D hours will be calculated consecutively without overlap between the original and replacement periods.
3. If no replacement is made, the subsidy already received by the enterprise will be deducted from the final payment or returned.
Students recruited by enterprises will participate in the R&D project from July 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025 (a total of three months). The total R&D hours must reach at least 189 hours, with R&D hours recorded each month. The project provides a total subsidy of NT$36,000 for undergraduate students and NT$60,000 for graduate students (including doctoral students). Other related salary benefits are negotiated between the enterprise and the recruited student.
The subsidy is paid by the project to the enterprise, which then provides it to the student.
The subsidy will be paid in two installments based on the number of recruited students.
1. The first installment, accounting for 50% of the project budget, will be paid after the contract is signed and upon submission of an invoice (including tax).
2. The second installment (final payment), accounting for 50% of the project budget, will be paid after final settlement of actual expenses, submission of a cumulative expense statement, and the R&D subsidy claim list, and upon approval of acceptance, with an invoice (including tax) issued by the enterprise.
1. Enterprises must establish a dedicated account to record all income and expenses. Project funds should be directly deposited into the enterprise's dedicated account and must not be received by a third party.
2. Enterprises must cooperate with the project's accounting audit and submit relevant accounting documents within the specified time. If the accounting documents are incomplete or violate Ministry of Economic Affairs regulations, the enterprise must unconditionally return the government funds. If major deficiencies are found, the enterprise will be disqualified from applying for the project for three years.
3. The balance of project funds and pre-tax interest must be returned to the national treasury.
4. If there are special reasons due to budget review by the Legislative Yuan, the project funds may be adjusted accordingly.
No. Enterprises may modify a standard labor contract to fit the project requirements or adjust their internal contract templates to meet the mutually agreed terms.
After the matchmaking deadline, the project will announce the list of interns admitted by companies on the project website. To protect personal information, if a space elite intern has a three-character name, the middle character will be marked with an O. Additionally, during the 3-month internship, interns must document their monthly research tasks and learning activities conducted at the company through the project learning platform. Both the announcement and records can serve as proof.
If a space elite intern withdraws due to force majeure, they do not need to return the allowance already claimed from the company. The remaining allowance will be given to a replacement intern. If no replacement is available, the remaining allowance must be returned to the treasury.
Each company has only one matchmaking account. Once a match is successful, a separate management account for the project advisor will be created. If the password is forgotten, it can be reset through the login portal by clicking "Forgot Password".
The project’s free online courses and customized training resources are available primarily for matched companies and space elite interns. Any remaining accounts will be distributed equally among the companies.