Xinying Sugar Factory Transformed into Cultural-Tech Hub, Showcasing Smart Robot Outpost

(CNA reporter Zhang Rongxiang, Tainan, 5th) Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che announced today the launch of the "Smart Robots Enhance Tainan – Xinying Sugar Factory Transformation into a Cultural Technology Hub" plan, aiming to turn the Xinying Sugar Factory into a key outpost for smart robot demonstration, verification, education, and investment services.

At a press conference, Mayor Huang stated that Tainan is actively building a smart robot industry development cluster centered on Shalun, Liujia, and Liuying. Shalun focuses on R&D, Liujia on application development, and the third phase of Liuying Science Park is being developed as a robot manufacturing base, though it is still undergoing central environmental impact assessment procedures.

Mayor Huang emphasized the urgency of industrial development, noting that the city government sought a site that could be activated immediately within existing areas. The Xinying Sugar Factory, located in downtown Xinying and covering approximately 29 hectares, possesses advantageous conditions for developing a smart robot demonstration and application site.

He explained that the factory is situated in the core area of Xibei, with convenient transportation and well-established surrounding educational, medical, and living amenities. It is suitable as a base for smart robot exhibitions, talent education, verification fields, corporate demos, and investment services. It can also serve as an important window for the robot industry chain to showcase itself externally, attract talent backflow, and strengthen the technological capacity of the "Greater Southern New Silicon S-Corridor."

Mayor Huang stressed that the city government prioritizes environmental sustainability and quality of life in promoting industrial development, adhering to the principle of "development without pollution, without power shortages, and without water shortages." The smart robot and drone industries, characterized by low pollution and high added value, align with future industrial trends and meet local expectations for industrial upgrading.

Regarding cultural heritage preservation, Mayor Huang noted that the Xinying Sugar Factory boasts rich sugar industry cultural assets and historical buildings. Through proper preservation and adaptive reuse, the plan aims to integrate culture and technology, fostering co-prosperity among cultural assets, family leisure, and smart technology, thereby creating diverse site value.

Mayor Huang also expressed hope that through the revitalization and transformation of the Xinying Sugar Factory, sugar industry cultural assets can be combined with high-tech innovative applications, nurturing new-generation industrial development opportunities within a historical setting. This initiative will be incorporated into Tainan's smart robot industry development layout, becoming a crucial node connecting R&D, manufacturing, and application.

The city government explained that the Xinying Sugar Factory has been rezoned through urban planning changes into an industrial culture district, a sugar industry culture district, and a preservation district. Future plans include seeking central government budget support and collaborating with Taiwan Sugar Corporation to promote public-private partnership revitalization. Short-term goals involve preliminary planning, mid-term goals include establishing a demonstration hall and launching verification projects, and long-term goals aim for a permanent exhibition site and investment service platform. (Editor: Chen Renhua) 1150605