The Ministry of National Defense (MND) today announced its first-ever open call for civilian companies to submit proposals for artificial intelligence (AI) and smart system initiatives.
The three projects are a smart warehouse management system, an AI satellite image recognition system and an augmented reality (AR) combat system.
The Defense Innovation Team is accepting proposals through the government’s electronic procurement network, the ministry said in a news release.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
These projects would accelerate defense innovation, it added.
Rapid changes in the modern battlefield environment and developments in the civilian technology space led the ministry to establish the team, it said.
By integrating mature civilian technology into the military, the private sector’s expertise, innovative thinking and unlimited potential can help the armed forces respond to new defense challenges and develop necessary technologies, it said.
This is the first time the team has sought out civilian firms, the ministry said, adding that it hopes the rapid development and introduction of this technology would lead to greater military effectiveness.
In a meeting with journalists in September last year, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) revealed the newly established team, following up on previous comments on bringing together the nation’s military and private sector to improve warfare capabilities.
At the time, Koo said the unit would focus on drone development, counter drone systems and defense applications of AI.
The team is to conduct a two-stage screening and briefing for accepted proposals, the news release said.
The ministry welcomes interested parties to find out more information on the government’s procurement Web site, it said.
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