NYCU Awards Honorary Doctorate to Phison Electronics CEO Khien-Seng Pua

(中央社訊息服務20260513 14:02:53)National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) on Monday awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree to Phison Electronics CEO and co-founder Khien-Seng Pua, the Taiwanese tech entrepreneur widely known as the “Father of the USB Flash Drive.” The honor recognizes Pua’s decades-long impact on the global semiconductor and storage industry, as well as his commitment to education, philanthropy, and talent development.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pua said Taiwan remains one of the few places in the world capable of independently developing advanced digital storage technologies — a strength he believes should continue to drive the country’s global competitiveness in the AI era.

NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin said Pua co-founded Phison in 2000 with four classmates, building the company from a small startup into one of the world’s leading NAND flash controller providers. Today, Phison’s technologies are widely used across smartphones, PCs, servers, automotive systems, and AI-driven applications.

Lin said Pua has consistently championed independent innovation and long-term investment in research and development, helping elevate Taiwan’s IC design industry onto the global stage. Under his leadership, Taiwan-developed storage technologies have expanded into enterprise computing, high-performance computing, automotive electronics, and AI infrastructure — sectors increasingly critical to the global digital economy.

The timing of the honorary doctorate also carries symbolic meaning for NYCU. Phison is now 26 years old — the same age Pua was when he launched the company — marking the journey of a once-young entrepreneur who has since become a role model for the next generation of innovators.

Beyond his achievements in technology and business, Pua has remained deeply connected to his alma mater and has long supported education through philanthropy and mentorship. Among his contributions is the donation of “Phison Hall” at NYCU’s Tainan Guiren Campus, which has become an important hub for IC design, semiconductors, and AI research in southern Taiwan.

He has also regularly returned to campus to speak with students, sharing lessons from his entrepreneurial journey and insights into the semiconductor industry. NYCU also highlighted Pua’s long-standing support for disadvantaged students, overseas Chinese students, and charitable organizations, much of it carried out quietly and without publicity.

The honorary doctorate recognizes not only Pua’s technological achievements and international influence but also his sustained contributions to higher education and social impact.

Former ITRI President Chintay Shih, who also attended the ceremony, praised Pua’s entrepreneurial journey as an overseas Chinese student who built a globally influential technology company in Taiwan. Shih said Pua’s story reflects the spirit of innovation that has helped shape Taiwan’s thriving technology ecosystem and continues to inspire younger generations of entrepreneurs.