Collaboration
ITRI Connects Taiwan and Europe to Build Resilient Tech Supply Chains
As global supply chains are restructured, Taiwan and Europe are formalizing deeper R&D cooperation to strengthen technological resilience. Taiwan has launched joint research calls with 14 European countries and signed official MoUs with five. To date, 86 collaborative projects have received over US$44 million in joint government funding, generating an estimated US$132 million in industrial output, primarily in semiconductors and optoelectronics. Recent projects with Germany and the UK signal Taiwan’s shift from contract manufacturing toward direct integration into European technology supply chains.
“Taiwan has strong capabilities in ICT, system integration, and advanced manufacturing, while Europe brings deep expertise in fundamental research, critical technologies, and international standards,” said Stephen Su, Senior Vice President of ITRI. “That combination gives us a solid foundation for sustained collaboration. Through networks such as EARTO and RIN, and through our overseas offices in Europe, ITRI helps Taiwanese companies connect with European research facilities, testing environments, and pilot sites. Our goal is to speed the path from applied research to real-world deployment. As a research platform and industrial accelerator, we see our role as building bridges between government, industry, and international R&D partners.”
Recent projects illustrate the policy-to-market pathway:
Smart Electronic Textiles
AiQ Smart Clothing, working with RWTH Aachen University and German design firm Entwurfreich, developed a fully automated continuous production process for washable smart electronic textiles, enabling scalable manufacturing for wearable and health-related applications. It has attracted interest from nine brands across seven countries, with initial orders exceeding 300,000 units.
The washable smart electronic garments produced through the fully automated, continuous process
Advanced Antenna Manufacturing
AWAN and the UK’s innovative technology company Q5D developed a rapid manufacturing solution for 3D electronic components. The approach cuts prototyping time for high-performance MIMO antennas by 80%, reduces size by half, and improves transmission efficiency by 20% to 50%. Now adopted by a global laptop brand, this technology is expected to generate about US$6 million in output value by 2028.
High-performance MIMO antennas made using the rapid 3D electronic components method
Looking ahead to 2026, Taiwan plans to expand cooperation with Europe under a policy framework centered on technological complementarity and supply-chain resilience. In addition to reinforcing established strengths in semiconductors, optoelectronics, machinery, and ICT, joint R&D will extend to emerging areas including drones, robotics, and low-Earth-orbit satellites. Platforms such as Horizon Europe, Eureka GlobalStars, and the bilateral programs will continue to serve as coordinators, supporting a more integrated and resilient transnational R&D network between Taiwan and Europe.