TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) launched the AI New Ten Major Constructions Tour on Friday (Dec. 19), spotlighting the silicon photonics industry in Hsinchu. He emphasized the government's commitment to four major infrastructures and three key technologies, aiming to create a trillion-dollar software platform value by 2040.
President Lai expressed the government's ambition for 1 million small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate AI, enhancing Taiwan's strategic advantage in tech competition. Accompanied by Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文), Minister of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC, 國科會), Lai attended the "Taiwan Silicon Photonics CPO-AI Ecosystem Roundtable Discussion" (台灣矽光子CPO-AI生態鏈座談會) to explore integrating Taiwan's industry, government, academia, and research systems for future industrial development.
Lai highlighted the need to shift Taiwan's development strategy from component production to focus on the space and defense industries. He thanked the collaborative efforts of industry, government, academia, and research sectors for advancing Taiwan's semiconductor, ICT, and EMS industries on the international stage.
He stressed the impending era of comprehensive intelligence, with the government introducing the AI New Ten Major Constructions to maintain Taiwan's leadership in the next generation. The government is also training public servants in AI applications to enhance policy implementation capabilities.
Lai noted that silicon photonics technology is one of the three critical technologies where Taiwan, through industry and academia collaboration, leads globally. He aims to achieve three application goals by 2040, including a trillion-dollar software platform value and AI integration for 1 million SMEs. During the tour, Lai engaged in discussions with industry representatives to address development bottlenecks and align future policies accurately.
