Stanford Robotics Center (SRC) Signs Cooperation Agreement with Taiwan ITRI to Strengthen AI and Robotics Supply Chains

On his visit to the United States, Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) announces that the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has signed an official cooperation agreement with the Stanford Robotics Center (SRC). In prospect, Taiwan expects to strengthen its AI and robotics research and development in the global AI ecosystem.

The partnership is designed to connect Taiwan’s hardware manufacturing strengths with Stanford’s interdisciplinary research expertise, accelerating the translation of academic research into commercial applications. Officials said the agreement marks a shift from academic exchange toward practical technology, building Taiwan's pragmatic solutions within the global AI and robotics supply chains.

The visit also underscored broader Taiwan–U.S. collaboration. During his meeting with executives at Cadence Design Systems in Silicon Valley, Minister of Economic Affairs Kung discusses collaborations in advanced R&D investment, specifically in AI-driven electronic design automation (EDA), and the semiconductor sector. Cadence said it plans to expand its R&D footprint and talent base in Taiwan, reinforcing Taiwan's role in next-generation chip design.

ITRI and Stanford University School of Engineering's Global Center for Online Entrepreneurship also renewed cooperation under the TREE (Taiwan Research Institute Entrepreneur Ecosystem) program, which helps Taiwanese startups access Silicon Valley mentorship, capital, and international markets. Since 2021, the initiative has supported 20 startups, attracting more than NT$500 million in overseas funding and securing substantial commercial orders.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs said the latest initiatives reflect Taiwan’s strategy of anchoring innovation at home while scaling globally, using international alliances to accelerate industrial transformation and competitiveness in AI and intelligent robotics.