The Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance (TEDIBOA) is presenting its latest drone technologies at the Japan Drone Expo from Wednesday to Friday.
TEDIBOA Chair Hu Kai-hung, who also heads the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp., is leading a delegation of major Taiwanese organizations. These include the Taiwan National Defense Industry Development Association, the Taiwan Aerospace Industry Association, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Coretronic Intelligent Robotics Corp., and Thunder Tiger Corp., according to CNA.
Hu said the alliance is made up of over 200 companies. Together, they form a complete supply chain for drone design, manufacturing, software, and key components. He stressed that TEDIBOA is working to build a secure, China-free supply chain while promoting international cooperation.
At the expo, Hu signed a memorandum of understanding with Chida Yasuhiro, Vice Chair of the Japan UAS Industry Development Association (JUIDA). Taiwan’s envoy to Japan, Lee I-yang, and Chien Chih-wei, head of the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ aerospace industry task force, witnessed the signing.
Hu noted that JUIDA is a key player in Japan’s drone sector. He said Japan is strong in precision machinery and automation, while Taiwan excels in semiconductors, information and communications technology (ICT), manufacturing, and system integration. Their collaboration will focus on combining supply chains, developing new technologies, and sharing market opportunities.
The global drone market is projected to reach NT$1.6 trillion (US$50 billion) by 2030. In Japan alone, the market is expected to grow from NT$122.9 billion this year to more than NT$202.9 billion by 2028. Last year, demand for drones in logistics and infrastructure inspection totaled NT$22.4 billion.
The alliance also pointed out that Japan is working to build a drone supply chain independent of China. The Japanese government has invested over NT$270 billion to boost its domestic drone industry.
At the expo, ITRI is displaying its own drones, including a hydrogen fuel cell-powered UAV, a logistics drone, and an AI-based fleet management system. It is also showcasing core components such as motors, flight controllers, and speed regulators.
ITRI President Liu Wen-hsiung said the institute has helped TEDIBOA explore international business opportunities. He also noted ITRI’s efforts in inviting major global drone companies—such as France’s Parrot and Japan’s Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory—to Taiwan to support local supply chain development.
Earlier this year, TEDIBOA led Taiwanese delegations to major drone events, including Xponential Europe in February and the Xponential exhibition in Houston in May. At the Houston event alone, more than 20 potential partnerships were discussed, with expected deals exceeding NT$1 billion.
In March, TEDIBOA Co-Chair Wu Hsiu-hui signed a cooperation agreement with Japan Drone Consortium Chair Nonami Kenzo. The Japanese group later visited Taiwan’s drone facilities, including sites for batteries, motors, controllers, and wireless communication systems.
