The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) on Wednesday unveiled a graphite membrane-based technology that can draw water from the air.
The technology was recognized this year at the US-based R&D 100 Awards, the institute told a news conference at an innovation forum at its Southern Region Campus in Tainan’s Lioujia District (六甲).
The graphite oxide membrane is housed in a “ubiquitous water wand,” which collects water vapor from the air and condensed water from it, potentially helping people in arid climates, the institute said.
Photo: CNA
Scientists are exploring possibilities to make use of the material on a large scale, which could provide a technological response to water scarcity, it said.
Other inventions highlighted at the forum included a miniaturized 3D sensing module that enables robots to grab objects with precision and a kilowatt-class fuel cell technology that boosts the efficiency of hydrogen batteries, it said.
Institute senior vice president Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文), who is director-general of the southern campus, said that the semi-public foundation is working with the government to upgrade industry in southern Taiwan.
The institute has collaborated with nearly 4,500 enterprises to integrate the technological research and innovation resources of the private sector, academia and the government, Wu said.
Tainan Deputy Mayor Chao Ching-hui (趙卿惠) said that the city has established complete industry value chains that are to be augmented by other projects, including the Shalun Green Energy Technology Demonstration Site and expansions to the Tainan Technology Industrial Park.
The ITRI is a valued partner in the city government’s efforts to promote economic growth via investments in technology and renewable energy, Chao said.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
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