TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Economic Affairs said the government aims to boost drone sector output to more than NT$40 billion (US$1.25 billion) by 2030, including strengthening the development of commercial and military UAVs and expanding Taiwan’s presence in the drone supply chain among democratic nations.
The ministry made the comments at a conference held by the National Science and Technology Council on Wednesday. Chang Neng-kai (張能凱), an official with the Industrial Development Administration under the ministry, said the government plans to promote industry integration and help local companies obtain international certification through strategies such as developing technologies with foreign firms, forming industry clusters, and improving drone regulations, per CNA.
Chang said developing the drone industry is of strategic importance and crucial to upgrading Taiwan’s ICT, semiconductor, and defense sectors. The government is expected to allocate NT$44.2 billion to support domestic drone makers in advancing technology and expanding into diverse markets.
Taiwan has around 250 drone companies, with a comprehensive supply chain covering components, raw materials, modules, and drone assembly, Chang noted. Last year, the sector’s output reached NT$5.05 billion, while exports rose from NT$25.44 million in 2023 to NT$69.6 million, led by Poland at 43.3%, followed by Germany at 23.4% and the Czech Republic at 20.6%.
Since last year, several European countries near Ukraine, including the Czech Republic and Poland, have sought cooperation with Taiwan’s drone sector, according to the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology. Some of these countries have been purchasing components from Taiwan for local assembly before shipping the drones to Ukraine. They are also encouraging Taiwanese companies to establish local factories, particularly to produce critical components such as batteries and motors.
National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said the council has formed “Chips Team Taiwan,” which includes IC design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing firms. The team aims to supply chips for sectors such as low-orbit communication satellites, drones, and robotics.
The ministry said that in addition to the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center in Chiayi, it will support the county government in building a drone industrial park in Minxiong Township by early next year, expected to host around 100 companies. It will also establish drone laboratories in Tainan’s Guiren and Lioujia Districts to develop UAVs capable of operating in harsh conditions.
The ministry added that it will work with other government agencies to revise drone regulations, covering flight rules and testing standards. It will also establish procurement and usage guidelines for government agencies that meet cybersecurity requirements.
The transportation and defense ministries will also set up more than 18 drone testing facilities nationwide, which are set to conduct performance and flight tests for UAVs of various types and sizes.
