TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology announced on Monday that it has authorized Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation to produce and sell UAV composite airframes using its licensed technology.

NCSIST said the technology transfer cooperation model with AIDC is a pioneering innovation in industry-research collaboration. The move promotes the development of Taiwan’s UAV industry by enabling broader industry participation in its technology licensing and product development efforts, the institute said, per CNA. It would also establish Taiwan as a global hub in the UAV supply chain.

The institute said its Minxiong Aerospace Industrial Park in Chiayi offers an ideal environment for boosting drone production capacity, shortening development timelines, and accelerating technical upgrades. The park will serve as a base to maximize the effectiveness of national resources, potentially making Taiwan’s drone industry the next “silicon shield” after semiconductors, it added. 

NCSIST signed a drone cooperation MOU in March with National Taiwan University, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, and National Formosa University to integrate industry, academia, and research capabilities. 

The institute is currently developing an unmanned surface vehicle.