Taking Flight from Pineapple Fields: Taiwan's 'Wings of Democracy' Drones Soar Globally

Starting from the grassroots, Taiwan's drone industry, after stumbling along for one or two decades, has blossomed from ruins with an unrelenting spirit, now poised to take off from pineapple fields in remote countryside. Bolstered by a global trend of trust and unified support from industry, government, and academia, the 'drone national team' based in Chiayi County is planning to build an industrial cluster integrating R&D, testing, and production. The drone industry is flourishing, attracting increasing capital and technology. Taiwan's 'Wings of Democracy,' marked with green and blue labels, are soaring into the sky. Taiwan has also secured a proposal ticket for NASA's lunar landing program, with opportunities to develop and position itself in the lunar economy. The 'Wings of Democracy' taking flight globally and into space tangibly demonstrates 'Taiwan as a part of the world.' ... Spurred by the Russo-Ukrainian War, which highlighted the security risks of Chinese-made DJI drones, a global demand for trustworthy products has created a once-in-a-century opportunity for Taiwan. The government has designated drones as one of the 'Five Trusted Industries.' In Chiayi, the 'Asia Drone AI Innovation Application R&D Center' (ADAI) has become a hub, attracting over 50 entities and forming a national team. President Lai Ching-te's administration has further solidified this policy, aiming to strengthen national security and resilience. Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin noted that countries like France, the US, Poland, and the Czech Republic are seeking cooperation with Taiwan for non-red supply chain drone products. The commercial applications are vast, from infrastructure inspection to disaster relief. The government plans to procure tens of thousands of drones in the next three years to foster the industry. ITRI Chairman Wu Tsung-tsong sees this as an opportunity to build new 'guardian mountains' for Taiwan's economy, similar to the semiconductor industry. Key companies like Thunder Tiger Technology (which has passed US Blue UAS certification) and Carbon-Based Technology are expanding rapidly, with inquiries from Japan, Vietnam, and India. The Chiayi cluster is expanding, with plans for a second industrial park by 2028. The industry's output value in 2025 reached NT$12.9 billion, a 2.5-fold increase from 2024, with exports growing 21-fold. This grassroots industry, now backed by national strategy and international trust, is poised to become a key player in the global democratic supply chain.