TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese startup MetaRosetta is developing advanced optical technology for drone thermal imaging, with its AI-designed metalenses attracting growing interest from defense users.
MetaRosetta, one of 14 startups selected for the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ TREE accelerator program in Silicon Valley, develops metasurface optical components using semiconductor manufacturing processes, per CNA. Its metalens technology uses nanoscale patterns on flat surfaces to control light, allowing optical components to become thinner and easier to integrate into next-generation devices.
MetaRosetta CEO Hsu Wei-lun (許維綸) said the company’s products include near-infrared lenses for consumer electronics and silicon photonics, as well as thermal imaging lenses for defense applications.
Hsu said demand for alternative thermal imaging technologies has grown as China has tightened export controls on germanium, a key material used in conventional thermal imaging lenses. He added that the increasing use of drones in modern warfare has also boosted interest in thermal imaging systems for nighttime reconnaissance.
The company previously won the US Army’s xTech competition and is exploring further cooperation with the military, CNA reported. Hsu said MetaRosetta’s proprietary AI platform helps overcome challenges in scaling metalens designs from research to mass production and could help Taiwan build on its semiconductor strengths to become a hub for advanced optics.
The Silicon Valley program also includes Morale AI, which develops AI agents that convert factory data into operational insights for manufacturers. Its customers include Taiwanese companies in the chip, machine tool, and textile industries.
Morale AI CEO Kao Sheng-hsiang (高聖翔) said US manufacturing investment by Taiwanese companies is creating demand for digital factory management tools. He said the company is working with semiconductor supply chain partners to build systems that transfer Taiwan’s manufacturing expertise and quality control practices to new facilities in the US.
