Taiwan Launches National Robotics Center with $629 Million Startup Funding Plan

Taiwan has launched a new national robotics center alongside a $629 million funding initiative aimed at accelerating the creation of domestic robotics companies, as the island seeks to strengthen its position in the global automation race. President Lai Ching-te formally inaugurated the National Center for AI Robotics (NCAIR) as part of a broader Ten AI Initiatives Promotion Plan designed to expand the country's artificial intelligence capabilities. The new center operates under the National Institutes of Applied Research and is tasked with supporting the development, testing, and training of robotics technologies and talent. Government funding targets new robotics startups alongside the launch, the Taiwanese government is preparing a NT$20 billion approximately $629 million funding program, expected to run from 2026 to 2029. The initiative aims to support the creation of at least three new robotics startups during that period. This follows an earlier NT$10 billion ($331 million) subsidy program announced last year. Addressing labor shortages through automation Taiwan's push into robotics is closely tied to demographic pressures. Like several advanced economies, the country is facing an aging population and declining workforce. Officials increasingly see automation as a practical response to these challenges, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and service industries. A highly automated economy Taiwan already ranks among the world's most automated economies. Data from the International Federation of Robotics shows the country has approximately 302 industrial robots per 10,000 employees, placing it among the top 10 globally. By comparison, South Korea leads with 1,220 robots per 10,000 workers, followed by Singapore with 818, Germany with 449, and Japan with 446. The United States ranks slightly ahead of Taiwan with 307 robots per 10,000 employees. Strategic positioning in the global robotics race The creation of NCAIR and the accompanying funding program signals a more coordinated national strategy to expand Taiwan's robotics sector. While the country is already a major player in semiconductor manufacturing and electronics, the new initiative suggests an effort to move further up the value chain into robotics systems and applications.