NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently identified drones as a technology to watch, with drone industry output projected to reach as much as NT$1 trillion by 2030. The integration of AI and drone technology is expected to dominate the future drone market, and related industries are eager to recruit talent. National Formosa University continues to strengthen its pipeline of elite drone industry talent through its AI Empowerment Program and cross-disciplinary AI curriculum, positioning itself for unstoppable growth!
Following his earlier remarks that "AI is essentially robotics," NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has now identified drones as one of the "robots poised for mass production." The drone industry is one of the nation's key strategic industries — beyond defense and security applications, its high-value commercial applications, including agricultural assistance, aerial surveying and mapping, inspection, logistics, entertainment/performance, and disaster relief, serve as an important engine for future economic growth.
Twenty years ago, back when drones had not yet become a popular field, National Formosa University (NFU) had already begun investing in talent cultivation and research in this area. NFU's proposed "Drone Industry Talent and Technology Cultivation Base" project was among the first to receive NT$90 million in funding from the Ministry of Education, and helped build the "Asia Drone AI Innovation Application R&D Center (Asia Innovation Center)" in Chiayi. NFU President Chang Hsin-Liang pointed out that the "Advanced Drone Equipment Laboratory" features not only the largest drone wind tunnel equipment design in Taiwan, but also a complete, integrated pipeline for design, manufacturing, testing, and verification — making it, in effect, the primary R&D and testing base for Taiwan's "Drone National Team."
AI Empowerment Advances Smart Upgrades and Talent Cultivation in the Drone Industry
Building on its cutting-edge advanced drone equipment laboratory and strong drone R&D capabilities, NFU received funding again in 2025 from the Ministry of Education's AI Empowerment Program under the "Drone Industry Talent and Technology Cultivation Base" initiative. Through four core modules — drone model and system design, advanced manufacturing and systems integration, drone AI empowerment and applications, and system testing and performance verification — the program is integrated into a "Cross-Disciplinary AI Curriculum for Drones," guiding students step by step from AI system modeling and applications, to smart autonomous drone flight technology and smart manufacturing applications, and further into drone design and manufacturing, smart application technology, and practical remote-sensing image analysis.
In addition, through the AI Empowerment Program, NFU has upgraded and deepened the smart capabilities of its existing facilities — not only digitally enhancing drone equipment, but also using AI-driven data to make the drone design, R&D, manufacturing, testing, and application processes established during the first phase of the project even more efficient! Sung Chao-Tsung, Chair of NFU's Department of Aircraft Engineering, stated that the AI Empowerment Program even has the potential to create a complete 3D model of Taiwan's terrain and landscape, which would be highly beneficial for future multi-functional drone applications serving Taiwanese society and daily life.
President Chang Hsin-Liang confidently stated that NFU plays an extremely critical role in the development of Taiwan's drone industry. "Many companies are unable to maintain a full R&D team over the long term, and NFU serves as an important partner providing them with technical support. Quite a few companies in the drone industry have entrusted their key R&D work to NFU, and some have even asked us to help design their drones. This shows that NFU's faculty and students are not only staying ahead of the industry as leaders in the field, but also serving as a guarantee of future employability!" He noted that NFU's soon-to-launch AI Empowerment Program will guide students to master every aspect of drone manufacturing, testing, computation, and application, achieving comprehensive intelligentization of drone manufacturing and application technology. For future talent passionate about and eager to pursue drones and AI applications, this program will open a wide runway toward a bright career ahead!
Reported by Global Views Monthly: Empowering the Drone Industry with AI! NFU Leads Smart Upgrades, Cultivating In-Demand Talent
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| National Formosa University President Chang Hsin-Liang (2nd from right, front row) and Department of Aircraft Engineering Chair Sung Chao-Tsung (1st from right, front row) invest in the AI Empowerment Program to cultivate drone industry talent. | President Chang Hsin-Liang states that NFU plays an extremely critical role in the development of Taiwan's drone industry, and that the AI Empowerment Program will advance smart upgrades and talent cultivation for the drone industry. |