Interview with the Chairman of the Society of Underwater Noise on the Opportunity of the Taiwan Marine Tech & Unmanned Robotics Expo

Dr. Chan Hsiang-Chih, Chairman of the Society of Underwater Noise (SOUN), initiated preparations for the 1st Taiwan Marine Tech & Unmanned Robotics Expo in October 2025. This special interview highlights the following topics.

Taiwan’s Unique Maritime Geographic Advantages

Formosa is the honorary name of Taiwan's treasure island, meaning "beautiful island." Beyond its scenic beauty, the name symbolizes Taiwan's richness and abundance. From an oceanic perspective, the Kuroshio Current off Taiwan's east coast provides potential for thriving fisheries, whale-watching tourism, deep-seawater resources, ocean thermal energy conversion, and ocean current energy.

The industrial corridor along Taiwan's west coast has developed from early agriculture and fisheries to the booming import-export OEM and manufacturing industries, and has now expanded to the thriving semiconductor, offshore wind power, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, unmanned vehicle, and marine technology sectors.

Taiwan's strategic maritime location is often described as part of the first island chain, mainly in the context of democratic countries countering communist countries. However, Taiwan is also an important base for the development of marine science and technology. The waters surrounding Taiwan encompass diverse marine conditions, making them comparable to the contents of marine textbooks; aside from the polar regions, almost all types of marine environments can be observed here.

Considering the physical, chemical, ecological, and geological characteristics of the marine environment, water depth is a primary indicator of ocean conditions. The sea off Taiwan’s west coast (Taiwan Strait) is part of the continental shelf, with an average depth of 80 meters. In contrast, waters several kilometers off the Pacific coast on the east can reach depths of thousands of meters. To the south, the South China Sea basin stretches, while to the north, the continental shelves extend toward Japan. No other island nation in the world has such a rich and varied marine environment, offering an excellent advantage for the marine technology market - one that should be carefully planned and utilized.

Marine Technology Exchanges Lead to Innovation and Business Opportunities

Taiwan's marine technology development began with university research, similar to other leading maritime nations. A key factor is the long-term commitment required for professional marine science research. Marine technology and processes demand significant investment and talent development. As a result, initial research and pilot development carry high risks and substantial funding requirements. Besides the high cost of sea trials, many essential technologies and equipment must be imported. Transitioning from academic research to commercial innovation remains a central goal for marine scientists. In particular, the depth capabilities achievable with domestically developed underwater technology serve as a key indicator of a nation's maritime strength.

The development of marine technology industry cannot easily replicate the success of Taiwan’s semiconductor or computer industries. Strategies such as OEM manufacturing, imitation, or low-price competition often yield limited results. In blue ocean markets like the marine industry, price is not necessarily the greatest advantage. The ability to create technologies that others cannot replicate is the key to long-term business opportunities, and the core lies in the exchange of knowledge and information.

Therefore, with national policy support - whether for national development, localization, or self-sufficiency - marine technology requires platforms for exchange and business opportunities. This is the rationale behind the creation of MATURE Taiwan.

Let the World See Taiwan's Maritime National Strength

I am fortunate that the early days of my studies in marine technology coincided with opportunities for Taiwanese academia to collaborate with European and American institutions. Now, as Chairman of the Society of Underwater Noise, I am in a position to support others. My goal is to make Taiwan's maritime national strength a key hub in the global marine technology supply chain, beginning with marine technology innovation and the deployment of offshore testing grounds.

The 1st Taiwan Marine Tech & Unmanned Robotics Expo (MATURE Taiwan) is organized by the Society of Underwater Noise and will be held from November 3 to 5 at the International Convention & Exhibition Center (ICC Tainan) and Taiwan/international exhibitors are invited to participate, with an exhibition area of at least 6,000 square meters, 250 planned booths, and more than 7,000 expected visitors. MATURE Taiwan is currently accepting exhibition bookings from Taiwan and abroad. For more information, please visit the official website maturetaiwan.com.