The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ 2016 Taiwan-USA Industrial Cooperation Mission, led by Dr. Ming-ji Wu, Director General of the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB), MOEA, returned home on August 27, 2016 with sweeping success. During the two-week journey, the delegation visited six states and signed four memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with U.S. companies aimed at forging new partnerships between the two nations and infusing bilateral cooperation with fresh momentum.
Focusing on off-shore wind power, avionic precision machinery, semiconductors, and the commercialization of innovations, the mission has successfully earned commitments by 3M, Energid Technologies, ABSG Consulting Inc. Keystone, Principle Power, Micron Technologies, and the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA) to intensify bilateral cooperation in the years to come.
Wu said the delegation, which comprised China Steel, CR Classification Society, the Taiwan Wind Turbine Industry Association (TWTIA), the Taiwan-USA Industrial Cooperation Promotion Office (TUSA), and a host of Taiwanese companies, inked an MOU with ABSG Consulting, Keystone, and Principle Power in Houston, Texas. The three U.S. partners have superior capabilities in the verification of off-shore wind farm project and the building of off-shore fixed and floating foundations for wind turbines Wu pointed out that the signing parties will strengthen cooperation on off-shore wind power generation and help build Taiwan’s wind power-related industrial strength.
In his visit to Micron Technologies’ headquarters in Boise, Idaho, Wu urged the company to expand DRAM investment in Taiwan, as the combination of Micron’s advanced technologies and Taiwan’s excellent capability in chip integration will enhance Micron’s global competitiveness. Furthermore, the delegation also successfully persuaded 3M to ramp up its investment in advanced polishing technology in Taiwan and begin collaborative research with Taiwan’s research institutes. Such moves will speed up Taiwan’s entrance into the sub-10 nano meter semiconductor production process.
Delegation members Deta International, the world’s top tool magazine manufacturer, and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan’s largest industrial research body, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Energid Technologies of the U.S. The Boston-based Energid enjoys a good reputation as the top provider of advanced software and robotic systems for the aerospace, manufacturing, defense, medical, and transportation industries. Wu added that the bilateral cooperation will create a win-win situation for both parties and help Taiwan realize the vision of becoming a global intelligent machinery hub.
In addition, delegation member TUSA signed an MOU with the New York-based ERA with an aim of helping new startups on the east coast of the U.S. to cooperate with counterparts in Taiwan. The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina agreed to expand exchanges and cooperation with ITRI, TUSA, and the Committee for the Development of Precision Machinery Industry (PMID) in the areas of avionics and intelligent machinery.