The next central government budget would include funding for Taiwan’s major artificial intelligence (AI) projects initiative, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday.
Ministries would roll out their multi-year plans in stages, with the first year’s funding and program details to be released alongside the budget, Cho said at the joint opening ceremony for the Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robot Show, and Intelligent Asia.
Taiwan’s smart manufacturing sector must play a more active role in leading the country’s economic transformation and ensuring it keeps pace with the rest of the world, Cho said.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
The combined exhibition encompasses smart manufacturing, robotics, AI and more to form an ecosystem in which industries can support one another and develop together, Cho said.
Relevant agencies and ministries are planning to implement the National Development Council’s (NDC) plan, Cho said, adding that funding and further details would be announced alongside the new central government budget.
The country’s efforts would “be clear to see,” Cho said about the projects’ first-year budget.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan is well-positioned to lead the next generation of smart manufacturing technology, Cho said, citing projects such as the Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City, an AI industrial park to be built in Tainan.
“Contributing to the democratic supply chain is Taiwan’s responsibility,” Cho said.
The 10 AI projects would focus on three pillars: strategic applications, foundational infrastructure, and developing key technologies such as quantum computers, robotics and silicon photonics, he said.
The country would develop sovereign AI, increase its computing power, cultivate AI talent and invest billions, Cho said.
Cho also spoke on ongoing tariff negotiations with the US, saying that Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) has permission to do what is necessary, including fly back to the US.
Hopefully, negotiations would soon conclude with a reasonable agreement, Cho added.
To support the manufacturing sector, the Executive Yuan has also submitted a draft amendment to the special resolution bill that allocates an additional NT$20 billion (US$659.89 million) for industry, Cho said.
This year’s Intelligent Asia smart manufacturing exhibition opened yesterday in Taipei with more than 1,000 companies from 16 countries showcasing technologies relating to AI, humanoid robots, net zero manufacturing, digital transformation and more.
Organizers said the event at the Nangang International Exhibition Center from yesterday through Saturday includes 4,500 booths across eight areas, and would host more than 100 professional forums and seminars.
The exhibition space in Taipei’s Nangang District (南港) is divided into sections on automation, robotics, lasers, logistics, cold chains, molds, 3D printing and fluid transmission, according to exhibition materials.
“AI-driven robotic innovation is upgrading global manufacturing and is also a future element of national industry,” Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association president Szu Kou-i (絲國一) said at the event.
“I hope that Taiwan’s AI robot industry can surpass NT$1 trillion in production value in the short term,” he said.
According to publicity materials introducing the trade fair, the automation and robotics sections highlight smart factory applications, including robotic arms, collaborative robots, edge computing, embedded systems and AI system integration, along with energy management and storage solutions for net zero manufacturing.
Companies displaying robotic arms include Hiwin, Fanuc, ABB, Epson, Denso, Yaskawa Taiwan, Kawasaki and Nachi Taiwan.
Industrial computer companies such as Advantech, Nexcom, Adlink and Neousys are also presenting applications of embedded systems and edge computing in production line automation.
Siemens, Delta Electronics and Syntec are showcasing AI system integration using algorithms and data platforms to advance automated decisionmaking, while Shihlin Electric and TECO Electric & Machinery are featuring energy management and storage systems.
The exhibition’s laser section includes displays of laser sources, processing equipment, optical integration and silicon photonics, as well as high-end optical components and precision processing solutions.
Meanwhile, the logistics and cold chain sections focus on smart logistics and warehouse integration, automated sorting and shelving, logistics integration, and cold chain applications.
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