On November 16, 2025, Taiwan’s National Science Council’s Deputy Commissioner Su Chen-Kang led a delegation to the United States and held a press conference at the Silicon Valley Tech Group office in San Francisco on November 12 (Wednesday). The purpose was to explain Taiwan’s policy direction and vision for promoting the smart robotics industry.
During this visit, in addition to visiting multiple companies in the Bay Area to deepen Taiwan-US cooperation in the smart robotics industry and talent field, discussions were also held with local scholars and professionals to explore the technological development and industrial applications of smart robotics.
In response to the rapid global development of AI, the Taiwan government initiated the “AI New Top Ten Construction” plan, with smart robotics being one of the key projects. In May of this year, the National Science Council proposed the interdepartmental “Smart Robotics Industry Promotion Plan,” which includes an investment of NT$10 billion from the National Development Fund for startups, and plans to allocate an additional NT$10 billion budget over the next four years (2026-2029).
The initiative focuses on three main goals: “System Innovation,” “Value Enhancement,” and “Social Popularization.” Through four major strategies of “Key Technology Layout,” “Industrial Ecosystem Establishment,” “Cybersecurity and Standards Regulation,” and “Talent Cultivation and Application Promotion,” the plan aims to promote industry development. The project emphasizes “service robots” and will first implement applications in the fields of catering, healthcare, logistics, and disaster relief to alleviate labor shortages in Taiwan and improve overall efficiency.
Deputy Commissioner Su mentioned that in the face of the rapid development of global AI and semiconductor technology, smart robotics has become a key application of artificial intelligence in the physical world and a crucial core of the next wave of technological revolution. Taiwan possesses a complete semiconductor and ICT industry chain, as well as refined mechanical and manufacturing capabilities, providing unique advantages for the development of smart robotics.
The National Science Council hopes to create a competitive smart robotics industry cluster in Taiwan by integrating startup support, technology research and development, talent cultivation, and industry investment, driving Taiwan towards a new era of smart technological advancement. It is estimated that within the next five years, the production value of service robots is expected to grow from NT$4 billion to NT$50 billion, becoming the next technological growth momentum in Taiwan.
To strengthen international connections and talent recruitment, the Taiwan government is implementing various measures to attract top international scholars and technical experts by offering high salaries and a favorable research environment for research and teaching in Taiwan. There is also active recruitment of professionals with industry experience and innovative capabilities to engage in smart robotics and AI-related fields to enhance Taiwan’s research and development capacity in emerging technology industries and technology implementation capabilities.
Furthermore, the National Science Council has established the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), while the Ministry of Economic Affairs is promoting the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Innovation and Application Research Center (ARIDC), in collaboration with the Southern base of the Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA), to jointly create the “Great Southern Silicon Valley” smart technology corridor. This development in Tainan will integrate industry, academia, and research resources to promote smart robotics research, applications, and international innovation cooperation, becoming a new hub for Taiwan’s smart technology industry.
During the delegation’s visit, they toured multiple robotics research centers, AI, and automation research institutions, along with startup bases in the Silicon Valley. That evening, they attended the “Taiwan Smart Robotics Industry and International Talent Exchange Seminar,” which attracted many international scholars and professionals interested in discussing the technological trends and future prospects of smart robotics.
Deputy Commissioner Su mentioned that the US and Taiwan have a deep cooperation in the semiconductor and AI fields, and there is immense potential for even greater collaboration in the smart robotics sector in the future. This visit not only deepened Taiwan-US technological exchanges but also showcased Taiwan’s innovative strength and development potential in the field of smart robotics to the international community. The National Science Council will continue to focus on the core vision of “AI industrialization, industrial AI,” driving Taiwan to become a global hub for smart robotics technology, demonstrating Taiwan’s capabilities to the world.