HW Group

Physics-Driven AI, Intelligent Laser Systems, and Optical Inspection
for Smart Manufacturing and Smart Healthcare
Research

The HW Group focuses on the intersection of ultra-precision laser machining and Physics-driven Deep Learning. Our work spans from fundamental laser-material interactions to advanced applications in silicon photonics, laser-induced coloration, and smart medical devices. By integrating optical system design, artificial intelligence, and robotic automation, we aim to deliver highly interdisciplinary solutions to unmet needs in both smart manufacturing and smart healthcare.

Opportunities

Our lab offers a unique ecosystem for both academic and commercial impact. We are actively recruiting highly motivated students eager to engage in interdisciplinary research and deep-tech commercialization (please email your CV). We also welcome industrial partners for joint research, technology transfers, and consulting.

ACS Photonics August 2025 supplementary cover featuring HW Group research on laser-induced color prediction

Featured Research

ACS Photonics selected cover for work on physics-driven color prediction in laser-induced thin films.


News & Awards

Highlights

競賽獲獎

2026 / 03

Team m'AIcron 榮獲2026美光半導體創新應用競賽金美獎

半導體生產製造組: Adaptive Semiconductor Patterning Inspection: A Knowledge-Driven Multi-Modal Framework for Dynamic Manufacturing Conditions

m'AIcron 半導體生產製造組 Gold
閱讀新聞報導
HW Group semiconductor innovation highlight
榮獲2026美光半導體創新應用競賽金美獎

Recent Timeline

Awards, media coverage, grants, and lab milestones.

  • 2026/04 Congrats to Ming Chung Lim and Andrew Chang on winning 第三屆美光半導體創新應用競賽 ─ 金美獎!

  • 2026/04 Congrats to Mandy Huang on winning HMS Scholarship Award!

  • 2026/03 Congrats to Yi Liu on winning 第三屆2026「致茂精密機械與量測技術論文獎」─ 優等!

  • 2026/02 Welcome our new lab member, Johnny Weng!

  • 2026/02 Welcome our new lab member, Mandy Huang!

  • 2026/01 Welcome the newest little member of HW Group, ReRe! 👶💕

  • 2025/11 Congrats to HW Group on winning 2025 清華創業日創業競賽—第三名!

  • 2025/11 Congrats to Taco on winning 2025 耀登炳南大專院校優秀人才獎學金!

  • 2025/09 Congrats to HW GROUP on winning 2025 FutureTech Award 未來科技獎!

  • 2025/07 Welcome our new lab member, Cheng-Han Tsai!

  • 2025/06 Welcome the newest little member of HW Group, Juzu! 👶💕

  • 2025/04 Welcome our new lab member, Sean Huang!

  • 2025/02 Welcome our new lab member, Rachel Lin!

  • 2024/12 Congrats to Taco on winning OPTIC 2024 Student Paper Oral Award!

  • 2024/12 Congrats to HW GROUP on winning 第21屆國家精進新創獎—學研新創!

  • 2024/11 Congrats to Taco on winning 2024 CTCI Foundation Science and Technology Scholarship Award (2024中技社科技獎學金)!

  • 2024/11 Congrats to Prof. Chen on winning 衛生福利部113年度防疫績優—個人獎

  • 2024/09 Welcome our new lab member, Chin-Lun Chang!

  • 2024/09 Welcome our new lab member, Ming Chung Lim!

  • 2024/07 Congratulations to Pei-Chia Lin on winning 2024 NSTC undergraduate student research grant!

  • 2024/07 Welcome our new lab member, Dong-Wei Yang!

  • 2024/05 Welcome our new lab member, Joseph C.H. Wu!

  • 2024/04 Welcome our new lab member, Pin-Han Huang!

  • 2024/03 Congrats to Yi Liu on winning 第二屆2024「致茂精密機械與量測技術論文獎」─ 銀獎!

  • 2024/02 Welcome our new lab member, Chang-Chih Tsou!

  • 2024/02 Welcome our new lab member, Yujen Chen!

  • 2024/02 Welcome our new lab member, Yu-Wei Hsu!

  • 2023/12 Congrats to HW GROUP on winning 第20屆國家精進新創獎—學研新創!

  • 2023/12 Congrats to HW GROUP on winning EE Times Taiwan- 2023創意挑戰賽: AIOT之校園組人氣獎&冠軍!

  • 2023/12 Congrats to CH Chou on winning OPTIC 2023 Student Paper Poster Award!

  • 2023/12 Congrats to WJ Chen on winning OPTIC 2023 Student Paper Oral Award!

  • 2023/11 Congrats to Prof. Chen on winning Delta Young Technology Scholar Award in Smart Manufacturing 2023 台達年輕學者科技講座—智慧製造領域!

  • 2023/10 Welcome our new lab member, David Chiu!

  • 2023/10 Welcome our new lab member, Shun-Hsiang Hsu!

  • 2023/09 Congrats to HW GROUP on winning 2023 FutureTech Award未來科技獎!

  • 2023/09 Congrats to WJ Chen on winning NTHU Award for Outstanding Conference Proceeding Papers of Students in International Conferences!

  • 2023/08 Welcome our new lab member, Binfun Tsai!

  • 2023/08 Welcome our new lab member, Shu-Han Wu!

  • 2023/08 Welcome our new lab member, Leon Jian!

  • 2023/08 Welcome our new lab member, Hsuan Lien!

  • 2023/08 Welcome our new lab member, Pei-Chia Lin!

  • 2023/02 Welcome our new lab member, Chang-Yu Tsai!

  • 2023/02 Welcome our new lab member, Wisarud Yongbanjerd!

  • 2022/12 Congrats to WJ Chen on winning The OPTIC 2022 Student Paper Oral Award!

  • 2022/12 Congrats to HW GROUP on winning 第19屆國家新創獎—學研新創!

  • 2022/11 Congrats to HW GROUP on winning 第二屆台灣尤努斯創新獎(社會組)!

  • 2022/10 Congrats to Chien-Hung Chen on winning NTHU Presidential Scholarship!

  • 2022/10 Congrats to Yun-Jie Jhang on winning NSTC Outstanding PhD Student Scholarship and NTHU Presidential Scholarship!

  • 2022/09 Welcome our new lab member, Chia-Hung Chou!

  • 2022/09 Welcome our new lab member, Yuan-Fang Lee!

  • 2022/09 Welcome our new lab member, Zong-Ying Yang!

  • 2022/07 Congrats to our team on winning grant from NTHU Smart Campus Project!

  • 2022/06 Congrats to our team on winning the Project Award and Popularity Award in the Campus as a Living Lab @ NTHU!

  • 2022/06 Welcome our new lab member, Yi Liu!

  • 2022/06 Welcome our new lab member, Chien-Hung Chen!

  • 2022/06 Welcome our new lab member, Kenny Huang!

  • 2022/05 Welcome the newest little member of HW Group, Yuzu! 👶💕

  • 2022/03 Congrats to our team on winning NT30,000 grant from CTM SDGs Implementation Project!

  • 2022/01 Welcome our new lab member, Yun-Jie Jhang!

  • 2021/10 Congrats to Willy Hu on winning NTHU Presidential Scholarship!

  • 2021/10 Congrats to Yi-Jiun Shen on winning MOST Outstanding PhD Student Scholarship and NTHU Presidential Scholarship!

  • 2021/09 Congrats to Tristan on the adimission to the CMU master program!

  • 2021/09 Welcome our new lab member, WJ Chen!

  • 2021/08 Welcome our new lab member, Willy Hu!

  • 2021/06/17 Welcome the newest little member of HW Group, dodo Lin! 👶💕

  • 2021/06 Welcome our new lab member, Tristan Chen!

  • 2020/10 Welcome our new lab member, Yi-Jiun Shen!


Research

We integrate ultrashort-pulse lasers, optical system design, artificial intelligence, and robotic automation to enable high-precision laser machining for advanced manufacturing and photonic applications.

Keywords: laser-material interaction, laser-induced coloration, sustainable manufacturing

Femtosecond laser-material interaction

About Prof. Hung-Wen Chen (陳鴻文)

Dr. Chen is an Associate Professor in the International Intercollegiate Ph.D. Program at NTHU, with joint appointments in the Institute of Photonics Technologies, Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, and the Ph.D. Program in Precision Medicine. In 2026, he was invited to serve as a Visiting Scholar at MIT and the Broad Institute.

After receiving his Ph.D. in EECS from MIT in 2014, he co-founded a startup in Wuhan Optical Valley and later joined Delta Electronics to establish the Advanced Green Photonics Center. His work spans optical inspection, intelligent laser systems, and the translation of interdisciplinary research into deployable technologies.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT
  • M.S. in Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University
  • B.S. in Physics, National Taiwan University

Current Positions

  • Associate Professor, iPhD Program, NTHU
  • Joint Appointed Professor, IPT / IEEM / Precision Medicine Program, NTHU
  • Research Consultant, Center for Measurement Standards, ITRI
  • University Ambassador and Certified Instructor, NVIDIA DLI

Research Focus

  • Smart manufacturing and smart healthcare
  • Ultra-precision laser machining and optical inspection
  • Artificial intelligence, AOI, and physics-driven modeling
  • Robotics and automation for deployable systems

Selected Honors

  • 2025未來科技獎 (2025 FutureTech Award)
  • 第21屆國家新創獎 - 學研新創 (2024 21st National Innovation Award, Academic Innovation Category)
  • 衛生福利部113年度防疫績優個人獎 (2024 Award for Outstanding Individual in Epidemic Prevention, Ministry of Health and Welfare)
  • 2023年度台達年輕學者科技講座 - 智慧製造領域 (2023 Delta Young Technology Scholar Award in Smart Manufacturing)
  • 2023未來科技獎 (2023 FutureTech Award)
  • 第19屆國家新創獎 - 學研新創 (2022 19th National Innovation Award, Academic Innovation Category)
  • 玉山青年學者 (2020 Yushan Young Scholar)


Publications

  • W. Yongbanjerd, Y-F. Lee, C.-Y. Chen, and H.-W. Chen*, "Morphology-driven white coloration on stainless steel via underwater nanosecond laser processing," Applied Surface Science Advances 34, 100985, 2026.

  • C.-C. Tsou, D.-W. Yang, and H.-W. Chen*, "Mood disorders and incident ICU delirium: distinct risk profiles across clinical subgroups and diagnostic subtypes," General Hospital Psychiatry 100, 267, 2026.

  • M.-J. Ye, I. Bisignano, R. Wong, H.-W. Chen, Y. Takeda, S. Ishii, and K.-P. Chen, "Mid-Infrared Three-States Nanoimaging of Reconfigurable Binary Chalcogenide Sb2S3," Applied Surface Science Advances 34, 101000, 2026.

  • C.-C. Tsou, D.-W. Yang, and H.-W. Chen*, "Association of bipolar disorder with new-onset delirium among critically ill patients," Journal of Affective Disorders 393, 120465, 2025.

  • G.-Y. Zhuo, H.-W. Chen*, Y.-S. Liu, Z.-P. Yang, H. Su, Y.-L. Liu, and M.-C. Chan, "Passive signal increase with improved signal-to-background ratio in nonlinear light microscopy through time-stretching," Applied Physics Letters 127, 101103, 2025.

  • J.-Y. Jhang, T.-M. Tai, C.-H. Chou, W. Yongbanjerd, P.-H. Huang, and H.-W. Chen*, "PD-TNN: physics-driven tandem neural network for color prediction in laser-induced thin films," ACS Photonics 12, 3959, 2025. (Selected as Supplementary Cover)

  • M.-J. Ye, R. G. Bikbaev, P. S. Pankin, L.-H. Chen, Ivan V. Timofeev, D. Chiu, H.-W. Chen, S. Ishii, and K.-P. Chen, “Lossless phase change materials of adjustable Tamm plasmon polaritons in near-infrared" Advanced Optical Materials, 2402889, 2025.

  • Y.-T. Hsu, C.-H. Chen, R.-Y. Hsu, H.-W. Chen*, and K.-K. Liu, "Femtosecond laser-induced Au nanostructure-decorated with plasmonic nanomaterials for sensitive SERS-based detection of Fentanyl", Talanta, 284, 127264, 2024.

  • Y. Liu, W.-T. Lee, H.-P. Lu, and H.-W. Chen*, "A Novel Multi-Modal Learning Approach for Cross-Process Defect Classification in TFT-LCD Array Manufacturing," IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing, 37(4), 527-534, 2024. (2024致茂精密機械與量測技術論文獎—銀獎)

  • P.-H. Wang, H.-Y. Zheng, Y.-H. Liu, N.-L. Hou, C.-H. Chen, H.-W. Chen, C.-M. Wang, "Low-dispersive silicon nitride waveguide resonators by nanoimprint lithography," APL Photonics 9, 086107, 2024.

  • P.-H. Wang, C.-H. Chen, N.-L. Hou, and H.-W. Chen*, "Refining silicon nitride waveguide quality through femtosecond laser annealing," Scientific Reports 14 (1), 15638, 2024.

  • C.-W. Hu, C.-Y. Lu, Y.-C. Wen, and H.-W. Chen*, "An economical single-shot pulse picker without nonlinear effect and dispersion," Review of Scientific Instruments 95, 013003, 2024.

  • Y.-J. Shen, E.‑Y. Liao, T.-M. Tai, Y.‑H. Liao, C.‑K. Sun, C.-K. Lee, S. See, and H.-W. Chen*, "Deep learning-based photodamage reduction on harmonic generation microscopy at low-level optical Power," Journal of Biophotonics 16(12), e202300285, 2023.

  • Y.-C. Lu, E. Darius, M.-C. Lien, I.‑H. Yeh, H.‑F. Shi, Y.-H. Huang, C.-H. Chen, H.-W. Chen, C.-Y. Su, R.-Y. Hsu, and K.-K. Liu, "Two-dimensional Cs2AgBiBr6-based biosensor for the sensitive detection of a cardiac biomarker," ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 6(24), 23022–23028, 2023.

  • Y.-J. Jhang, X. Lin, S.-H. Chia, W.-C. Chen, I-C. Wu, M.-T. Wu, G.-Y. Zhuo, T.-M. Tai, and H.-W. Chen*, “RepE: unsupervised representation learning for image enhancement in nonlinear optical microscopy,” Opt. Lett. 48, 4245-4248, 2023.

  • Y.-P. Huang, T.-Y. Tsai, T.-H. Chen, C.-B. Chueh, Y.-N. Tsai, Y.-W. Chang, Y.-C. Wu, H.-W. Chen, M.-T. Tsai, Y.-P. Hung, H.-C. Lee, "A generic framework for Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography imaging: software architecture and hardware implementations," IEEE Access 8, 191726-191736, 2020.

  • J. Lim, H.-W. Chen, S. Xu, Z. Yang, F. X. Kärtner, and G. Chang, "3 GHz, Watt-level femtosecond Raman soliton source," Opt. Lett. 39, 2060-2063, 2014.

  • H.-W. Chen*, H. Zia, J. Lim, S. Xu, Z. Yang, F. X. Kärtner, and G. Chang, "3 GHz, Yb-fiber laser based, few-cycle ultrafast source at the Ti:sapphire laser wavelength," Opt. Lett. 38, 4927-4930, 2013. (Top of Downloads in November 2013)

  • J. Lim, H.-W. Chen, G. Chang, and F. X. Kärtner, "Frequency comb based on a narrowband Yb-fiber oscillator: pre-chirp management for self-referenced carrier envelope offset frequency stabilization," Opt. Express 21, 4531-4538, 2013.

  • H.-W. Chen*, J. Lim, S.-W. Huang, Damian N. Schimpf, F. X. Kärtner, and G. Chang, "Optimization of femtosecond Yb-doped fiber amplifiers for high-quality pulse compression," Opt. Express 20, 28672-28682, 2012.

  • H.-W. Chen*, G. Chang, S. Xu, Z. Yang, and F. X. Kärtner, "3 GHz, fundamentally mode-locked, femtosecond Yb-fiber laser," Opt. Lett. 37, 3522-3524, 2012.

  • H.-W. Chen*, T. Sosnowski, C.–H. Liu, L.–J. Chen, J. Birge, A. Galvanauskas, F. X. Kärtner, and G. Chang, "Chirally-coupled-core Yb-fiber laser delivering 80-fs pulses with diffraction-limited beam quality warranted by a high-dispersion-mirror based compressor," Opt. Express 18, 24699-24705, 2010.

  • C.-M. Chiu, H.-W. Chen, Y.-R. Huang, Y.-J. Hwang, W.-J. Lee, H.-Y. Huang, and C.-K. Sun, "All-THz fiber-scanning near-field microscopy," Opt. Lett. 34, pp. 1084-1086, 2009.

  • H.-W. Chen*, C.-M. Chiu, J.-L. Kuo, P.-J. Chiang, H.-C. Chang, and C.-K. Sun, "Subwavelength dielectric-fiber-based terahertz coupler," J. Light. Technol. 27, 1489-1495, 2009.

  • C.-H. Lai, Y.-C. Hsueh, H.-W. Chen, Y.-J. Huang, H.-C. Chang and C.-K. Sun, "Low-index terahertz pipe waveguides," Opt. Lett. 34, 3457-3459, 2009.

  • J.-Y. Lu, C.-C. Kuo, C.-M. Chiu, H.-W. Chen, Y.-J. Hwang, C.-L. Pan, and C.-K. Sun, "THz interferomertric imaging using subwavelength plastic fiber based THz endoscope," Opt. Express 16, 2494 -2501, 2008.

  • J.-Y. Lu, C.-P. Yu, H.-C. Chang, H.-W. Chen, Y.-T. Li, C.-L. Pan, and C.-K. Sun, "THz air-core microstructure fiber," Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 064105, 2008.

  • H.-W. Chen*, Y.-T. Li, J.-L. Kuo, J.-Y. Lu, L.-J. Chen, C.-L. Pan, and C.-K. Sun, "Investigation on spectral loss characteristics of subwavelength terahertz fibers," Optics Lett. 32, 1017-1019, 2007.

  • L.-J. Chen, H.-W. Chen, T.-F. Kao, J.-Y. Lu, and C.-K. Sun, "Low-loss subwavelength plastic fiber for terahertz wave guiding," Opt. Lett. 31, 308-310, 2006. (Featured in Optics.org)

  • J.-Y. Lu, L. Chen, T.-F. Kao, H.-H. Chang, H.-W. Chen, A.-S. Liu, Y.-C. Chen, R.-B. Wu, W.-S. Liu, J.-I. Chyi, and C.-K. Sun, "Terahertz microchip for illicit drug detection," IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18, 2254-2256, 2006. (Research Highlight in Nature Photonics)


fig3

Building on this foundation, our 2023 spin-off, m’AI Touch Technology Co., Ltd., successfully commercialized AI-powered touchless elevator systems. Now widely adopted across Taiwan, this technology is evolving into a comprehensive smart infrastructure platform featuring remote calling, robot access, and ESG energy-saving analytics.

m'AI Touch logo

Teaching

  • Fall 2025: 11410IPHD400400 科技旅讀:電腦、人工智慧、機器人 Travel and Reading for Technology:Computers, AI, and Robotics

  • Fall 2025: 11410IPT553000 深度學習於生醫光學影像之應用 Deep Learning in Biomedical Optical Imaging

  • Fall 2025: 11410EMIM501200 大數據技術實務應用 Big Data Analytics and Practices

  • Spring 2025: 11320IPHD400300 淨零排放與商業模式創新 Net-Zero Emissions and Business Model Innovation

  • Spring 2025: 11320IEEM513600 深度學習及產業應用 Deep Learning for Industrial Applications

  • Fall 2024: 11310IPT553000 深度學習於生醫光學影像之應用 Deep Learning in Biomedical Optical Imaging ​

  • Fall 2024: 11310IPHD501700 先進雷射微奈米加工--原理及應用 Advanced Laser Micro/Nano-Manufacturing: Working Principles and Applications ​

  • Spring 2024: 11220IPHD400200 永續商業模式創新 Business Model Innovations for Sustainability

  • Spring 2024: 11220IEEM513600 深度學習及產業應用 Deep Learning for Industrial Applications

  • Fall 2023: 11210IPT553000 深度學習於生醫光學影像之應用 Deep Learning in Biomedical Optical Imaging ​

  • Spring 2023: 11120THC102000 科技旅讀:科學園區電腦之旅 Travel and Reading for Technology:A Computer's Journey in the Science Park

  • Fall 2022: 11110IPHD400100 創新創業學程導論 Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program ​

  • Spring 2022: 11120IPHD501100 工業雷射加工--原理及應用 Industrial Laser Machining: Working Principles and Applications

  • Fall 2021: 11010IPT553000 深度學習於生醫光學影像之應用 Deep Learning in Biomedical Optical Imaging ​

  • Spring 2021: 10920EMIM501300 先進製造技術 Advanced Manufacturing Technology​

  • Spring 2021: 10920IPHD501400 深度學習概論 Introduction to Deep Learning​

  • Fall 2020: 10910IPHD501100 工業雷射加工--原理及應用 Industrial Laser Machining Working Principles and Applications


Contact

Room A604, Side B, General Building Ⅱ (iPHD)
No. 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan
hungwen@mx.nthu.edu.tw

Leveraging these strong industrial ties, our lab offers a unique ecosystem for both academic and commercial impact. I am actively recruiting highly motivated students eager to engage in interdisciplinary research and deep-tech commercialization (please email me your CV).

We also welcome industrial partners for joint research, technology transfers, and consulting.