ITRI Innovation Day Highlights Taiwan’s Shift Toward AI-Driven Industry

ITRI President Pei-Zen Chang emphasized that modern development no longer relies on isolated breakthroughs. Instead, the future depends on interdisciplinary collaboration and the fusion of expertise. This sentiment was echoed by keynote speaker Frank Bonafilia, CEO of the Edison Awards, who analyzed the differing approaches taken by the U.S. and Taiwan in financing startups and commercializing high-impact research.

The showcase featured a range of practical solutions, including the Sustainable Pavement Material Recycling project—which allows for the total reuse of reclaimed road materials—and an AI-driven water leak detection system that saves approximately 21.87 million cubic meters of water annually. Other notable entries included advanced robotics for hazardous industrial environments and high-payload drones designed for extended endurance missions, capable of carrying up to 50 kilograms.

Beyond the hardware, the exhibition highlighted significant progress in medical and agricultural technology. The MagicABC solution, developed by the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, reported an 81% success rate in improving language therapy outcomes. Meanwhile, precision aquaculture tools and autonomous inspection robots demonstrated how AI can reduce labor costs by up to 50% while addressing the cooling demands of next-generation high-power chips. By facilitating direct matchmaking between research teams and industry partners, the event sought to solidify southern Taiwan’s role as a hub for innovation-driven manufacturing.