Premier Lin Chuan said today that intelligent machinery is an important element in the "five plus two" innovative industries plan, and a key strategy for transforming and upgrading Taiwan's industrial sector.
After a briefing by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) at today's Cabinet meeting, the premier opined that although Taiwan has a strong machine industry, it still lags behind Japan and Germany. He therefore hopes that intelligent manufacturing and the application of intelligent technologies will help Taiwan vendors surpass their Japanese and German competitors, and carve out their own market niche.
He also called on all of the agencies involved including the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labor to coordinate their efforts, especially in terms of cultivating talent, to help make this plan a success.
The MOEA said that intelligent machinery can manufacture products tailored to meet individual needs. So promoting the intelligent machinery industry means incorporating intelligent technologies (e.g., robots, the internet of things, big data) into precision machinery and implementing intelligent manufacturing, using domestic industries such as aerospace, metal transport vehicles, textiles and foods to develop the required expertise. Whole manufacturing plants can then be exported on a turnkey basis, creating an intelligent machinery ecosystem.
The MOEA also said that to develop a supportive industrial environment for the intelligent machinery industry, the government has already set up a dedicated promotional office, development center, consortium and exhibition center, as well as four talent training centers throughout the island. It thus hopes to integrate industry, academic and research capabilities with government resources to set up model intelligent manufacturing lines in the target industries. Various field trials will then gradually help to upgrade small and medium-sized enterprises, transcend Taiwan's image as a contract manufacturer, and boost productivity, competitiveness and salary standards while seeking global business opportunities.