A Harvard-educated lawyer with a master’s in business administration, Eric Wu’s early career revolved around education, politics, and public service. It was in 2004 when Wu became chairman of Shinkong Synthetic Fibers Corporation. SSFC is the first company in Taiwan to produce PET bottles, with a product line that covers two major categories: chemical fiber and plastic. It has received multiple awards from the Ministry of Economic Affairs including the Innovation in Energy Conservation Award, and the Clean Energy Business Award from Taoyuan County.

Under Wu’s helm, SSFC pursued a 4G telecommunications license in 2013. In 2019, the proportion of the company’s revenue was polyester business accounting for 74 per cent, optoelectronic business accounting for 18 per cent, and financial securities accounting for 8 per cent. In 2021, SSFC formed a joint venture with Shinsol Advanced Chemicals to develop, produce, and market electronic grade hydrogen peroxide.