10th Anniversary of SIKA Marks Taiwan-Australia Scientific Collaboration Milestone
2025/09/04
The Cold Neutron Triple-axis Spectrometer - SIKA, designed and built by Taiwan, is housed at Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in Sydney. Named after the Formosan sika deer, the instrument represents a landmark in Taiwan-Australia scientific collaboration and marks a decade of successful operation. On September 4, 2025, the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC), in coordination with ANSTO, hosted SIKA’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, featuring opening remarks by Dr. Chen-Kang Su, Vice Minister of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and Chairman of the NSRRC Board. The event brought together neutron science experts from Taiwan and abroad to reflect on past accomplishments and to explore future opportunities for neutron research and international partnerships.
Following the termination of Taiwan’s Research Reactor II (TRR II) project in 2002, the NSTC initiated plans to develop advanced neutron experimental facilities through international collaboration to address the needs of Taiwanese researchers in neutron science. In 2005, facilitated by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Australia and the Australian Office Taipei, Taiwan and Australia signed a bilateral agreement. A team led by National Central University carried out the design and construction of SIKA, the NSRRC assumed responsibility for operation and maintenance after the instument was successfully commissioned and officially opened in 2015. SIKA has become a key platform for Taiwanese scientists conducting neutron scattering experiments.
SIKA delivers outstanding performance with an average availability of 99%, making it the most stable cold neutron triple-axis spectrometer in the Asia-Pacific region. Taiwanese research teams using SIKA have published their findings across diverse fields including semiconductors, green energy, polymer and biomedical materials in top international journals, such as Energy & Environmental Science, Advanced Materials, Advanced Science, etc., demonstrating the valuable role of SIKA in materials science and fundamental physics.
Under the Taiwan-Australia bilateral agreement, Taiwanese researchers are also granted access to other neutron instruments operated by ANSTO. This agreement expands Taiwan’s access to advanced neutron facilities and strengthens collaboration with world-class large-scale research institutions.
Vice Minister Su noted that the NSTC has actively promoted bilateral and multilateral international research projects to enhance Taiwan’s visibility and participation in the global technology landscape. SIKA stands as one of the most successful examples of such initiatives. Taiwan looks forward to deepening collaboration to foster long-term development in visionary scientific research and international partnership.
At the Tenth Anniversary event, SIKA’s history and milestones were celebrated and revisited. An academic workshop featuring international speakers from renowned institutes in Australia and Japan was also held to share the latest research and technologies, enhancing opportunities for international academic exchange and collaboration.
