Taipei: Taiwan is aiming to launch a contract robotics startup by 2026, modeled after the successful structure of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), according to Wu Cheng-wen, head of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
According to Focus Taiwan, the Taiwanese government plans to partially finance the new company, emulating its 1987 strategy with TSMC, while private investors will provide the remaining capital. Wu emphasized that the National Development Fund, under the Executive Yuan, will limit its stake in the venture to no more than 30 percent, ensuring minimal government intervention in its management and operations.
Wu noted significant interest from the private sector in the robotics initiative, highlighting that the National Development Fund has allocated NT$10 billion (US$330.8 million) to support this TSMC-like startup alongside other robotics projects. This move mirrors the 1987 launch of TSMC, where the government invested US$70 million for a 48.3 percent stake, with additional funding from private sectors, including the Netherlands’ Philips N.V.
TSMC’s journey from a government-backed startup to the world’s largest pure-play foundry operator serves as a model for the envisioned robotics company. Wu explained that the proposed contract robotics maker, like TSMC, will not produce its own branded products, eliminating competitive concerns for its clients. The Taiwanese government is eager to harness local expertise in contract manufacturing to propel the robotics industry forward.
Wu acknowledged that while Taiwanese companies have made strides in industrial robotics, their efforts have largely focused on component production, such as robotic arms. The government aims to expand this scope, encouraging the production of multifunctional robots powered by AI, capable of human-like interactions.
Wu’s announcement comes on the heels of the Executive Yuan’s recent project approval aimed at accelerating Taiwan’s smart robotics industry development. The initiative seeks to increase the output value of professional service robots from NT$4 billion to NT$50 billion within five years.
With technical support from the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the NSTC, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan plans to introduce robotics products in the smart healthcare, lodging, food/beverage, and logistics sectors within two years. As part of the smart robotics project, a research and development hub will be established at ITRI’s southern branch in Tainan’s Lioujia District, with plans to produce these innovations in a nearby industrial park.
The close proximity of R and D and production facilities is expected to attract firms specializing in sensors, machine tools, and electronics development, potentially forming a robust robotics cluster in Taiwan, Wu concluded.