TAIWAN-DEFENCE-MILITARY-TRAINING
Taiwan has established a global drone academy and signed a cooperation agreement with a Polish partner, hoping to expand cooperation in drone training, certification, and manufacturing, and to establish a safe and reliable international supply chain. Image source: Overseas Community Affairs Council, Taiwan.

Taiwan has formally established the Global UAV Academy (GUAVA), aiming to develop Taiwan into a major international hub for drone training, certification and manufacturing. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said at the launch ceremony in Taipei that the drone industry offered not only commercial potential but was also closely tied to national resilience, international cooperation and secure supply chains.

According to a Nov. 3 announcement by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, the academy is part of Taiwan’s efforts to internationalize its drone industry. Its goals include training skilled professionals, establishing certification systems and promoting cooperation in drone manufacturing.

The academy has also signed a new cooperation agreement with Polish partners, building on Taiwan’s previous partnerships with related institutions in the United States and Japan. The government hopes to strengthen drone technology, talent development and supply-chain integration by expanding its network of international partners.

The Overseas Community Affairs Council said the initiative would also promote the development of a secure and reliable supply chain that does not depend on Chinese components. As drones see wider use in national defense, agriculture, logistics, disaster response and infrastructure monitoring, the sourcing of critical components and supply-chain security have become issues of concern for governments around the world.

The drone industry encompasses multiple areas, including flight-control systems, communications modules, sensors, batteries, navigation and software. Taiwan already has a strong foundation in electronics manufacturing, semiconductors and information and communications technology. Integrating these capabilities with international market demand could create opportunities to expand drone exports and cross-border cooperation.

The launch of the Global UAV Academy also reflects Taiwan’s efforts to turn its strengths in technology industries into resources for international cooperation. The scale of the academy’s training programs, its certification system and the results of its international partnerships will be key indicators of whether Taiwan can establish global influence in the drone industry.