TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Industrial Technology Research Institute Director Wu Tsung-tsong (吳政忠) said the agency seeks to expand international cooperation to boost Taiwan’s drone sector, highlighting growing business opportunities in unmanned vehicles and urging the nation to tap into them.
Wu said Taiwan’s strengths in manufacturing and advanced semiconductor technology benefit drone development, which spans hardware, chips, and software. However, he added, there remains room for the country to further develop UAV software and chip capabilities, per CNA.
Taiwan’s drones rely heavily on foreign-licensed chips or modified systems for autonomous operation, AI-powered image recognition, and anti-jamming flight control, the Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology said. The institute added that Taiwan’s drone camera modules and transmission components remain highly dependent on Chinese suppliers.
Wu highlighted the importance of Taiwan’s drone players shifting toward the development and integration of unmanned aerial systems. He said cybersecurity and China-free supply chains are two key strengths for the sector, which Taiwan can use to bolster its global presence.
ITRI has talent in the mechanical, ICT, and optoelectronics fields and plans to collaborate with domestic firms to strengthen drone hardware and software capabilities. It aims to keep pace with rapidly advancing UAV technology, driven by industrial applications and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Wu said the institute is forming a UAV systems R&D alliance to provide a platform for local firms to share expertise and complement each other’s strengths. He added that more than 10 drone, electronics, semiconductor, and inspection technology suppliers have expressed interest in joining.
Closer cooperation between domestic drone makers and component suppliers could help reduce costs to strengthen competitiveness against Chinese UAVs, Wu said. He also stressed the need to work with Europe, the US, and Japan to expand R&D and strengthen technological complementarity.
In January, ITRI joined the US Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International’s Green UAS program, becoming the first overseas organization recognized for commercial drone cybersecurity testing and technical evaluations.
The institute’s role as a Green UAS certification site is expected to help Taiwan’s drone industry expand into the US market, Wu added. It will assess drone companies’ funding sources, Chinese components, and compliance with the US National Defense Authorization Act cybersecurity requirements.
