Smart Robot Promotion Program to Invest NT$20 Billion Over 4 Years, National Applied Research Laboratories: At Least 3 Startups to Be Established

The National Smart Robot Research Center of the National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) held its inauguration ceremony today in Shalun, Tainan, with President Lai Ching-te, Minister of the National Science and Technology Council Wu Cheng-wen, Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao, NARLabs President Tsai Hung-ying, and Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che in attendance. NARLabs President Tsai Hung-ying stated that the smart robot industry promotion program is expected to invest NT$20 billion between 2026 and 2029, including NT$10 billion from the science and technology budget and NT$10 billion from the National Development Fund. This demonstrates a focus not only on basic research and application but also on industrial innovation. Tsai Hung-ying pointed out that the goal is to develop smart robot systems and cultivate new ventures, establishing at least three robot system startup companies. In addition, the domestic output value of smart robots is to be expanded, hoping to increase the related output value from NT$4 billion to NT$50 billion within five years. More importantly, it aims to accelerate the social penetration of smart robots to address the domestic labor shortage. He said that in the face of challenges such as a declining birthrate and a super-aged society, the demand for service robots is increasing. Statistics show that the global market size will double by 2030, exceeding US$150 billion. Taiwan will prioritize the introduction of service robots in three major areas: dangerous environments, medical care, and catering, and gradually assist various industries in upgrading. Tsai Hung-ying also quoted TSMC Chairman Mark Liu as saying, "The value of smart robots lies in helping humans improve their lives." He hopes to build a shared platform for smart robots, working with industry, academia, and research to create scientific research applications and further establish a robot industry ecosystem. He stated that it will start with autonomous robots, then promote collaborative robots, and in the future, it will combine artificial intelligence agents (AI Agent) to develop swarm robots, achieving intelligent decision-making through autonomous learning. The long-term goal is to develop brain-computer integrated robots, combining multi-party intelligence and AI models to create a "robot brain" with highly integrated capabilities, and to develop bionic robots. Su Wen-yu, director of the National Smart Robot Research Center, said in an interview that the center will prioritize the development of home care robots, but will also assist in "robots that no one wants to make," such as mechanical arms needed for underwater exploration vessels, which have low demand and are not easy to profit from. The National Science and Technology Council pointed out that the National Smart Robot Research Center will play roles in technology integration, application promotion, and ecosystem construction, driving the development of related technologies and industries. An industry-academia-research cooperation intention signing ceremony was also held during the inauguration ceremony, combining the strengths of all sectors to promote Taiwan's progress towards a smart future. (Editor: Lin Chia-hsien) 1150410