Via external research and development (R&D), the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has helped the machinery industry raise its technological prowess and turned the industry's horizontal competition chain into a vertical complementary industrial structure, Premier Mao Chi-kuo stated at today's Cabinet meeting.
The machinery industry, possessing a comprehensive industrial chain and supply system, is the most important link among the nation's traditional industries, and the MOEA's efforts to make it more competitive deserve commendation, Mao affirmed.
In light of global competition, the machinery industry must adopt even more innovative means to raise its R&D capacity, the premier pointed out. He thus enjoined the MOEA, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology and other relevant agencies to work together, employing such means as incorporating the strengths of corporate bodies and the academic sector, externalizing R&D, forming strategic alliances and integrating the vertical complementary industrial chain. Doing so will help the industry to effectively enhance its key technologies and autonomous capacity, thus effecting industrial upgrade and consolidating the industry's international competitiveness.
The premier made these remarks after the ministry briefed him on its measures to enhance the machinery industry's competitive edge. In the past the industry focused primarily on component and single-machine sales, the MOEA stated. In response to the development trends of global manufacturing labor shortage, environmental protection, energy conservation and industrial upgrade, the industry must now employ information and communications technology, the Internet of Things, big data, and smart-robot technologies to effectively develop the "Internet of Things for machinery," so as to advance toward machinery Productivity 4.0 and to provide end users with total solutions.
In the short term, the MOEA will help integrate machine tools with other sectors such as the aerospace and car industries to augment the nation's machinery-product exports, the ministry pointed out. In the medium to long term, the ministry will continue to help cultivate machinery talents and pass on industry experience. Besides educational training for frontline workers, it will also foster high-end R&D personnel. Furthermore, by developing differentiated products, consolidating the industry's key autonomous technologies and R&D, carving out a clear market niche and combining with versatile marketing means, the MOEA will increase the international visibility of the nation's machinery brands and raise the industry's international competitive edge.