Humanoid robots have emerged as a critical platform for AI applications, with the United States and China prioritizing their development as a cornerstone of AI technology. Industry leaders view these robots as a solution to future labor shortages. In Taiwan, the National Science and Technology Council is driving initiatives to advance service-oriented robotics, focusing on the development of humanoid robot systems powered by proprietary technologies for enhanced functionality and autonomy. However, Taiwan faces significant hurdles, including limited investment in foundational technologies, insufficient talent development resources, weak AI application capabilities in core industries, and intense price competition. Compared to Japan, the U.S., and China, Taiwan’s historical underinvestment in robotics and the resulting talent drain to the semiconductor sector have constrained its research capacity.
A key challenge lies in the development of AI. Humanoid and biomimetic robots require Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with autonomous decision-making capabilities that differ from those of generative AI used in chatbots. Taiwan’s industries and research institutions currently lack expertise in these advanced AI technologies, limiting their potential to become global suppliers of AI modules for robotics. Additionally, Chinese manufacturers’ low-cost products and components have posed significant competitive pressure on global markets.
Taiwan must adopt a strategic approach in order to overcome its position as a technological follower. Pursuing a “national team” model in a highly competitive field risks escalating costs without tangible results. Instead, Taiwan should prioritize comprehensive technology audits and a clear development roadmap to guide efficient investments. This strategy can address critical gaps in technology integration and talent cultivation, fostering a robust robotics ecosystem.
Taiwan’s diverse industrial base and the growing demand for non-China supply chains offer pathways to international markets. In contrast to China’s modular robot training centers that expedite AI adoption through diverse scenarios, Taiwan’s proposed facilities, adapted from autonomous vehicle environments, may fall short in providing the varied testing conditions essential for robust development. To enhance the depth of AI applications, Taiwan could collaborate with vocational institutes and industries to create diverse training environments that leverage real-world internship settings.
Taiwan’s manufacturing expertise and strengths can be leveraged to develop a sovereign AI framework through data-driven and digitalized processes, fostering greater collaboration with the global robotics industry. This presents an opportunity to advance and integrate digitalization policies for applied industries. To address the massive labor shortage in the service sector, Taiwan should seize the opportunity to foster collaboration between the service and machinery industries, integrating existing mechanical technologies with industry-specific AI to develop a service-oriented robotics industry capable of delivering global solutions and competing in future markets.
Taiwan should also capitalize on the rise of non-China supply chains, actively attracting international humanoid robot companies to establish bases in Taiwan, strengthening partnerships with local industries, narrowing the gap in humanoid robotics development, and positioning it as a key future technology sector.
From a global perspective, China holds a dominant position in component cost advantages, while Europe, the U.S., and Japan lead in technology. As humanoid robotics enters a high-growth phase, demand for components such as motors, controllers, tactile skins, vision modules, and computing chips is expected to surge. By collaborating with technology leaders, Taiwan can strengthen its component industry, seizing substantial global market opportunities within a non-China supply chain framework.
By Chih-Yen Tai, Associate Researcher, International Economics Division, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research Source: Commercial Times, June 12, 2025, 04:10