TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Chiayi County Government said Monday that the head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan, Lutz Gullner (谷力哲), visited to explore cooperation on drones, then toured the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center.
Gullner said drones are growing in importance across defense, commercial, and public applications, per CNA. He said Taiwan’s building of non-red supply chains constituted a competitive advantage.
He said Chiayi brings together manufacturing, research, and government resources, a model that complements Europe. He added that a streamlined process of direct business contact, product certification, and after-sales service is crucial for entry into global markets.
Weng said Taiwan’s drone firms were once scattered but are now converging in Chiayi. He added that the center focuses on innovation, while the Minxiong Aerospace and UAV Industrial Park is a manufacturing base.
The county plans to link the center and park with Shueishang Airport for testing and mass production. The aim is to strengthen certification and shorten the time to market.
Weng noted differing standards between military and commercial products. He said ongoing exchanges on rules and market information can help firms target demand. At the same time, chambers of commerce and industry platforms can facilitate partnerships in technology, supply chains, and localized services.
He said that after-sales maintenance and technical support cannot be staffed for every market. He added that building local service networks with partner companies is vital to ensure timely support.
The talks also touched on unmanned vessels and space-related industries. Weng said Taiwan’s maritime environment makes unmanned boats strategically important, while low-altitude economy applications and satellite sectors are also expected to grow.
