The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has joined a program run by a leading global organization to evaluate uncrewed and autonomous systems, becoming its first cybersecurity assessor outside the US.
Under an agreement signed in Washington on Tuesday, the ITRI would provide cybersecurity testing and technical evaluation for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) in Taiwan, working as a “Recognized Assessor” for the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), AUVSI said in a statement yesterday.
"By welcoming ITRI as a Green UAS Recognized Assessor for cybersecurity testing, we are expanding access to high-quality, rigorous technical evaluation while maintaining a strong, centralized and consistent supply chain trust process in the United States," AUVSI president and CEO Michael Robbins was quoted as saying in the statement.
Photo courtesy of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International
US Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg wrote on social media yesterday that Taiwan is the only Green UAS program assessor outside the US.
The agreement would ensure Taiwanese uncrewed aircraft systems "meet the highest standards for cybersecurity, safety, and supply chain integrity," Helberg wrote.
Meanwhile, ITRI welcomed the "responsibility," saying that uncrewed aerial vehicle development increasingly involves system safety, supply chain trustworthiness and overall governance.
The agreement was signed ahead of the sixth Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue between Taiwanese and US officials, which was held in Washington on Tuesday, with Helberg and Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) representing their respective sides.
The two sides agreed to improve economic security cooperation in several areas, including building drone supply chains to reduce reliance on China, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said.
Taiwan's role as a trusted partner in non-China supply chains is expanding beyond semiconductors, to include drones, artificial intelligence, robotics and satellites, Kung said in a speech at the Atlantic Council think tank.
As global demand for non-Chinese supply chains grows, Taiwan is becoming increasingly needed by the international community, allowing full demonstration of its industrial capabilities, he said.
The AUVSI is the largest nonprofit organization globally that advances uncrewed systems, autonomy and robotics, representing companies and professionals from more than 60 countries.
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