Taiwan has formally launched its first national-level robotics hub, signaling an ambitious effort to build a globally competitive industry around intelligent machines. The National Center for AI Robotics, led by the National Institutes of Applied Research, is based in the southern innovation cluster of Shalun and was inaugurated on April 10.

AI demand is pushing data transmission to its limits, making 2026 a critical year for silicon photonics (SiPh) and co-packaged optics (CPO) to move into large-scale deployment. The race to commercialize these technologies is accelerating across the semiconductor industry.

Taiwanese display driver IC (DDI) manufacturers have reported broadly declining revenues for the first quarter of 2026, reflecting ongoing challenges in the small- and mid-size segments. Novatek posted NT$23.145 billion (US$728 million), down 14.7% year over year; Raydium recorded NT$5.437 billion, down 6.7%; Fitipower had NT$4.501 billion, down 3.4%; Ilitek reported NT$3.918 billion, down 14.4%; and FocalTech saw NT$2.474 billion, down 17.3%. Only Sitronix bucked the trend, posting a robust 23% year-over-year increase to NT$5.329 billion.