On Wednesday, Economic Minister J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) unveiled an ambitious plan to propel Taiwan’s AI industry into the global top three within four years. Kuo outlined a strategy to cultivate 200,000 AI engineers by 2028. This initiative involves two key components: implementing tax incentives for businesses investing in AI and launching a comprehensive talent development program.
The first part of the strategy focuses on enhancing the business environment for AI development. Kuo announced plans to increase the upper limit for tax-deductible R&D investment from NT$1 billion to NT$1.8 billion under Article 10-1 of the Statute of Industrial Innovation. This move encourages companies to further digitalize and decarbonize their operations, creating a more conducive ecosystem for AI growth.
The second part involves digitizing AI and making it smart, which requires more talent. Kuo says he is reviewing the “2+4 Talent Cultivation Program” designed to address the critical need for skilled AI professionals. This initiative aims to attract 100,000 overseas students while simultaneously nurturing 100,000 domestic talents in the AI field. Kuo says that the combined force of 200,000 AI engineers by 2028 is crucial for Taiwan to achieve its goal of becoming a top three global AI powerhouse.
Kuo also revealed to combine the populations of Taiwan, Japan’s Kyushu region, and the Philippines’ Luzon island to form a market of 70-80 million people to support AI software development. Kuo emphasized the need for consistent effort and substantial funding to achieve breakthroughs that can be commercialized.