Digital Industry Administration Expands 'AI Garden' Project, Partners with 6 Universities

Central News Agency, Taipei, May 25. The Digital Industry Administration (MODA) is promoting the 'AI Garden' project to build talent development models and accelerate the implementation of AI applications. Deputy Minister Hou Yi-hsiu stated today that the project has already achieved results in smart elderly companion robots and AI in livestock farming. This year, the project is expanding to connect with six universities to promote AI in long-term care, agriculture, and logistics. The MODA held a press conference today, announcing that in 115 (2026), it has connected with three universities—National Taitung University, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, and Fo Guang University—matching them with 50 local industries and engaging over 590 faculty and students. Hou emphasized that the key to AI transformation is people, describing 'AI Gardeners' as those who can translate technology into solutions. This year, the project will expand to include National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, National Penghu University of Science and Technology, National Dong Hwa University, National Ilan University, National Kaohsiung Normal University, and National Taitung University. Furthermore, the MODA will partner with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host the 2026 Taiwan Generative AI Hackathon, providing access to over 200 AI tools.