Aerospace, defense technology expo takes off in Taipei

2019/08/16

The biennial Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition kicked off Aug. 15 at Taipei World Trade Center, spotlighting the latest components and systems at 800 booths operated by 160 exhibitors from home and abroad.
 
 Organized by the government-supported Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the three-day expo features leading organizations such as the Ministry of National Defense and multinationals like BAE Systems, Honeywell International Inc. and Lockheed Martin.
 
 Attending the opening ceremony of the biennial showcase, President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan’s aerospace industry is thriving, as evidenced by the sector’s production value rising from NT$91.49 billion (US$2.91 billion) in 2015 to NT$120.7 billion last year. This was made possible by strong public-private collaborations under the government’s five-plus-two industrial innovation program, she added.
 
 Also at the opening, American Institute in Taiwan Director Brent Christensen said Taiwan is a significant partner in facilitating a free and open Indo-Pacific, with close ties on security cooperation being key to the Taiwan-U.S. friendship. Both sides will continue to work together based on their shared values of human rights, freedom and democracy, he added.
 
 The MND pavilion at the show is showcasing 81 technologies with a focus on the country’s indigenous defense industry. These include domestically developed systems by the primary R&D organization of the MND, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology based in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City. Major attractions include an anti-radiation drone and medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle.
 
 A key plank in the president’s national development strategy, the five-plus-two program is a comprehensive initiative targeting the high-growth sectors of biotech, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things, as well as promoting two core concepts: the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)