Taipei:Frank Grunert, the new chairperson of the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT), is advocating for greater agility in Taiwan's software and energy sectors. He believes that while Taiwan has a strong reputation in hardware manufacturing, there is significant potential for growth in software.

According to Focus Taiwan, Grunert emphasized the importance of agility in software development, which often involves adapting to changes and collaborating with customers and the environment. He praised Taiwan's engineering precision and expressed admiration for its software startups, highlighting the need for agility to succeed in the industry.

Grunert, who became ECCT chair on September 1st after leading Siemens Taiwan, previously served as the global head of grid control at Siemens. He sees the need for a more agile approach to electricity infrastructure projects in Taiwan, advocating for an expansion in power generation capacity and grid upgrades to meet increasing demand.

He suggested that the current process of identifying, budgeting, and constructing power infrastructure, which can take five to seven years, is too lengthy. Grunert proposed breaking projects into smaller parts and streamlining administrative procedures. He also called for digitalization in public procurement to enhance efficiency.

In his message to ECCT members, Grunert identified energy supply, labor shortages, and strengthening European-Taiwanese economic ties as crucial issues for future business conditions. He also noted the importance of a bilateral investment agreement for clearer business frameworks.

Grunert addressed challenges in offshore wind development, such as canceled projects and slow progress, which he attributed to overlapping governmental responsibilities and permit delays. He urged Taiwan to improve permit coordination and consider alternative financing arrangements to support developers and suppliers in the renewable energy market.