TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will launch a military-grade commercial drone program to expand its market with allied democracies, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC, 國科會) announced on Wednesday (Dec. 4). According to NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文), the government aims to enhance drone applications for homeland security and civilian purposes by offering local manufacturers research and development subsidies.
Wu noted Taiwan's strong ties with the Czech Republic, which hosted a European media delegation led by the Bakala Foundation at the NSTC on Tuesday afternoon. The delegation, interested in Taiwan's military industry amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, focused mainly on drones. Wu emphasized the NSTC's role in fostering close collaboration between industry and academia while connecting domestic and international markets. The delegation was most interested in Taiwan's semiconductor industry, curious about its success, competitive edge, and strategies to tackle geopolitical challenges.
Wu explained that Taiwan's semiconductor sector has thrived over the past 50 years due to unique science parks and strong government, industry, and academic cooperation. While Taiwan encourages international collaboration and technology exchange, it insists on keeping advanced process R&D within the country yet remains open to assisting friendly nations in establishing their semiconductor industries.
