TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan plans to develop its robotics industry around AI applications and social needs rather than military competition, Science, and Technology Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said Wednesday, per Nikkei Asia.
Speaking at a Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club briefing, Wu said Taiwan’s robotics strategy differs from China’s, focusing on practical uses that improve people’s lives. “We are not developing humanoids like soldiers kicking each other or running very fast,” Wu said, adding that Taiwan instead is developing robots to help people.
Taiwan aims to use robotics to strengthen its AI supply chain and address challenges from an aging population, Wu explained. He said robots could be developed in different forms and at lower costs to make them more comfortable and accessible for users.
The minister said Taiwan is transitioning from a “semiconductor island” into an “AI island” by building on its chip manufacturing and packaging capabilities. He pointed to companies like TSMC, ASE Technology Holding, and Foxconn as key players supporting the global AI supply chain.
Wu said Taiwan’s complete supply chain, covering semiconductors, equipment and hardware systems, makes it important for AI development. He added that Taiwanese companies are expanding manufacturing domestically and overseas, including in the US.
His comments came after TSMC announced an additional NT$3.24 trillion (US$100 billion) investment in Arizona to expand advanced chip capacity for AI demand. Wistron, a major Nvidia AI server supplier, also opened its first smart manufacturing facility in Texas this week to produce Nvidia GB300 superchip modules and servers, per Reuters.
Wu said Taiwan must carefully manage sensitive technologies through its own export controls and comply with regulations from key markets, particularly the US. He added that Taiwan needs global partners in areas like materials and logistics to develop its AI economy.
Taiwan’s government is also promoting robotics as a new growth sector beyond chips, alongside industries such as drones and healthcare, per Nikkei Asia. Tainan has become a major hub for robotics development, with research facilities and an industrial cluster supported by a NT$20 billion government investment program from 2026 to 2029.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) opened the National Center for AI Robotics in Tainan in April, saying AI initiatives could benefit 1 million small- and medium-sized enterprises. Supporters say Taiwan’s semiconductor and precision manufacturing strengths provide a foundation for advancing robotics.
Robotics could also help address labor shortages in aging societies by improving productivity in healthcare, manufacturing, and construction, according to experts. Jamestown Foundation and Wilson Center fellow Sunny Cheung, said Taiwan’s hardware ecosystem has attracted cooperation from companies including Nvidia and Tesla in robotics and AI-related technologies, per Nikkei Asia.
China has also made robotics a strategic priority, with Beijing reporting rapid growth in humanoid and quadruped robot development. However, Wu said Taiwan’s approach emphasizes human assistance, while analysts noted robotics will remain relevant to defense as autonomous systems become increasingly important in modern warfare.
Cheung said Taiwan’s robotics development could strengthen industries such as shipbuilding, chips, and autonomous vehicles. He said the ability to manufacture robots at scale and have access to key components will be critical, urging Taiwan to leverage its advantages.
