2026-07-02 Interview | Finding Gold in Waste: Ya-Min Hsieh and a New Chapter in Taiwan's Circular Economy
"Waste is never the end—it is the beginning of the next industrial value chain."
After earning her bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from the Department of Resources Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Ya-Min Hsieh embarked on a journey rooted in academic excellence before stepping into the heart of Taiwan's circular economy as an entrepreneur. At its core, her work reflects the very essence of a resources engineer: where others see waste, she sees a mine of untapped value.
1. From Academia to Entrepreneurship
Ya-Min Hsieh's academic journey was anything but ordinary. In 2004, she joined Tohoku University in Japan as a visiting researcher through Taiwan's National Science Council "Thousand-Mile Horse Program." After earning her Ph.D., she first taught at Taiwan Shoufu University before becoming a researcher in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Tokyo, where she focused on cutting-edge technologies for waste resource recovery.
Although her career appeared to follow a purely academic path, Hsieh knew she was waiting for more than another research paper—she was waiting for an opportunity to bring technology into real-world application.
2. Hidden Treasure in Silicon Sludge: Bridging the Solar and Steel Industries
In 2015, Hsieh co-founded Transcene Resources Co., Ltd. Her team focused on recycling silicon sludge generated during the manufacturing of solar cells. At the time, this material was widely regarded as industrial waste with few viable recycling options.
Her team successfully developed a technology to convert waste silicon sludge into recycled silicon ingots, which can be used by steel manufacturers as an alternative to imported ferrosilicon. This innovation created an unprecedented resource bridge between the solar energy industry and the traditional steel industry.
More than a technological breakthrough, it represented an innovative business model—connecting two previously unrelated industries through resource recycling and creating a truly circular economy.
3. Diagnosing Factories: A Circular Economy Consultant for the Semiconductor Industry
2017
Expanded circular economy applications into the semiconductor industry, serving as a "Factory Health Consultant" to help high-tech manufacturers identify the value of waste materials, reduce resource consumption, and achieve zero-waste goals.
2019
Founded Transcene Industrial Co., Ltd.
Received the Taiwan Circular Economy Award – Cross-Industry Silver Award.
2022
Received two honors at the Taiwan Circular Economy Awards:
◆ Outstanding SME Award
◆ Innovation & Technology Award
2024
Listed on the TPEx Innovation Board, becoming a leading company in Taiwan's semiconductor recycling industry and marking an important milestone in bringing circular economy technologies to the capital market.
4. The Final Mile of Solar Panel Recycling
As the global solar industry continues to expand, the recycling of end-of-life solar panels has become an increasingly important issue.
To address this challenge, Hsieh's team developed a turnkey plant solution capable of recovering glass, aluminum, silicon, silver, copper, and other valuable materials from discarded solar panels. The system can be rapidly replicated across different locations both in Taiwan and overseas.
Its significance extends beyond proper waste treatment—it helps complete the circular loop of the green energy industry.
5. The Spirit of NCKU Resources Engineering
Hsieh's story brings to mind an old saying from NCKU's Department of Resources Engineering: "Hidden among ordinary stones may lie precious jade."
From the laboratories of NCKU to research institutes overseas, from factory floors to the marketplace, and ultimately to the capital market, her journey has taken her across many different stages.
Yet one thing has never changed. She has always viewed the world through the lens of resource engineering—finding overlooked value where others see only what has been discarded.
The listing of Transcene Co., Ltd. marks an important milestone in the maturity of Taiwan's semiconductor waste recycling industry.
And it all began with the belief of an NCKU Resources Engineering graduate:
"Waste is simply a resource waiting to be rediscovered."
◆ Video Interview with Ya-Min Hsieh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnz-nJmIrlo
After earning her bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from the Department of Resources Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Ya-Min Hsieh embarked on a journey rooted in academic excellence before stepping into the heart of Taiwan's circular economy as an entrepreneur. At its core, her work reflects the very essence of a resources engineer: where others see waste, she sees a mine of untapped value.
1. From Academia to Entrepreneurship
Ya-Min Hsieh's academic journey was anything but ordinary. In 2004, she joined Tohoku University in Japan as a visiting researcher through Taiwan's National Science Council "Thousand-Mile Horse Program." After earning her Ph.D., she first taught at Taiwan Shoufu University before becoming a researcher in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Tokyo, where she focused on cutting-edge technologies for waste resource recovery.
Although her career appeared to follow a purely academic path, Hsieh knew she was waiting for more than another research paper—she was waiting for an opportunity to bring technology into real-world application.
2. Hidden Treasure in Silicon Sludge: Bridging the Solar and Steel Industries
In 2015, Hsieh co-founded Transcene Resources Co., Ltd. Her team focused on recycling silicon sludge generated during the manufacturing of solar cells. At the time, this material was widely regarded as industrial waste with few viable recycling options.
Her team successfully developed a technology to convert waste silicon sludge into recycled silicon ingots, which can be used by steel manufacturers as an alternative to imported ferrosilicon. This innovation created an unprecedented resource bridge between the solar energy industry and the traditional steel industry.
More than a technological breakthrough, it represented an innovative business model—connecting two previously unrelated industries through resource recycling and creating a truly circular economy.
3. Diagnosing Factories: A Circular Economy Consultant for the Semiconductor Industry
2017
Expanded circular economy applications into the semiconductor industry, serving as a "Factory Health Consultant" to help high-tech manufacturers identify the value of waste materials, reduce resource consumption, and achieve zero-waste goals.
2019
Founded Transcene Industrial Co., Ltd.
Received the Taiwan Circular Economy Award – Cross-Industry Silver Award.
2022
Received two honors at the Taiwan Circular Economy Awards:
◆ Outstanding SME Award
◆ Innovation & Technology Award
2024
Listed on the TPEx Innovation Board, becoming a leading company in Taiwan's semiconductor recycling industry and marking an important milestone in bringing circular economy technologies to the capital market.
4. The Final Mile of Solar Panel Recycling
As the global solar industry continues to expand, the recycling of end-of-life solar panels has become an increasingly important issue.
To address this challenge, Hsieh's team developed a turnkey plant solution capable of recovering glass, aluminum, silicon, silver, copper, and other valuable materials from discarded solar panels. The system can be rapidly replicated across different locations both in Taiwan and overseas.
Its significance extends beyond proper waste treatment—it helps complete the circular loop of the green energy industry.
5. The Spirit of NCKU Resources Engineering
Hsieh's story brings to mind an old saying from NCKU's Department of Resources Engineering: "Hidden among ordinary stones may lie precious jade."
From the laboratories of NCKU to research institutes overseas, from factory floors to the marketplace, and ultimately to the capital market, her journey has taken her across many different stages.
Yet one thing has never changed. She has always viewed the world through the lens of resource engineering—finding overlooked value where others see only what has been discarded.
The listing of Transcene Co., Ltd. marks an important milestone in the maturity of Taiwan's semiconductor waste recycling industry.
And it all began with the belief of an NCKU Resources Engineering graduate:
"Waste is simply a resource waiting to be rediscovered."
◆ Video Interview with Ya-Min Hsieh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnz-nJmIrlo