To promote digital equity and narrow the technological gap between rural and urban areas, the Institute for Information Industry (III) has once again partnered with the ASUS Foundation to advance the “2025 Indigenous and Rural Digital Care: Refurbished Computer Donation Program.” Continuing their joint commitment to strengthening digital capabilities in underserved regions, the two organizations donated an additional 120 refurbished computers on August 15th to three townships in Chia-Yi County: Jhong-Pu Township, Liou-Jiao Township, and Dong-Shih Township. Since its launch in 2019, the program has donated nearly 1,000 refurbished computers to education units in indigenous and rural communities, helping reduce regional disparities in digital access.
On August 15 th , the donation ceremony was held at the Barn Agricultural Innovation Park in Jhong-Pu Township, Chia-Yi County. Attendees included Long Chen, Deputy Director General of III’s Digital Transformation Research Institute; Yu-feng Lin, Director of the ASUS Foundation; Pi-Yun Lee, Mayor of Jhong-Pu Township; Cheng-Kai Huang, Mayor of Liou-Jiao Township; and Chia-lin Li, Secretary of Dong-Shih Township. Notably, as Chia-Yi’s agricultural sector has suffered severe losses due to recent typhoons and heavy rainfall brought by southwesterly airflow, the event also featured a special agricultural product showcase to support local farmers in their recovery efforts.
Upholding their social responsibility, particularly in the areas of circular economy and environmental sustainability, III and the ASUS Foundation have proactively invited corporations across Taiwan to participate in the program. Under this initiative, computers scheduled for decommissioning are collected, repaired, and rebuilt before being donated to schools, communities, and public institutions in indigenous and rural regions. The “2025 Indigenous and Rural Digital Care” program now spans in places like Chia-Yi, Hua-Lien, Kao-Hsiung, and Ping-Tung, supporting digital literacy development for students and disadvantaged groups and helping close the digital divide through tangible action.
III Digital Transformation Research Institute (DTRI)’s International Cooperation Center has long been dedicated to addressing digital inequality. The center has assisted in operating 14 Digital Opportunity Centers in rural communities across Taiwan and implementing the “i-Tribe” program, which deploys wireless internet hotspots in indigenous villages to enhance connectivity and improve daily life through digital empowerment. With artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshaping global industries, access to adequate computer resources has become even more critical for rural and indigenous areas. Through these refurbished computer donations, III aims to inspire broader corporate participation in ESG initiatives and encourage more organizations to support computer-donating programs, collectively expanding digital learning opportunities for children in remote regions and fostering a more inclusive and sustainable society.