Stepping Through the Door: Strategic Developments in Taiwan’s Space Program

Andie Wang

This article was originally published with the University of Nottingham’s Taiwan Insight and is republished here with the permission of the author. The article is a part of an ongoing collaboration between Taiwan Insight and CHOICE.

Space development has become fundamental to economic growth, national security, and strategic resilience, driven by breakthroughs in reusable launch vehicles and the growing importance of satellite applications. Technological advancements in satellite communications, earth observation, remote sensing data, and drone technology have transformed space from a technological frontier into an essential domain for national capabilities. Within this context, Taiwan has established a notable presence through its manufacturing excellence and private sector engagement, with the establishment of the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) in 2023 strengthening this promise.

Taiwan’s current role in the global space sector, while significant, holds untapped potential, with enhanced cross-agency coordination and industry integration being two critical aspects of Taiwan’s future space development. Indeed, strengthening governmental coordination mechanisms and developing comprehensive capabilities across the space industry value chain are essential foundations for Taiwan’s space leadership. Through these initiatives, Taiwan can build the organizational and industrial capacity necessary for its domestic space development and strengthen its position in the global space economy.

Horizontal Coordination: Strengthening Cross-Government Collaboration

Taiwan’s space governance has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from a mission-driven approach to a comprehensive framework that encompasses policy development, industry engagement, and commercial applications. This evolution culminated in 2023 with the establishment of TASA, which was restructured from the National Space Organization (NSPO).

The transition signifies an evolution in stature. NSPO was previously one of several national labs under the National Applied Research Laboratories of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) – Taiwan’s science ministry. Following the establishment of TASA, Taiwan’s space program was placed directly under NSTC, and its mandate was expanded beyond scientific research to include policy coordination, private-sector participation, and international cooperation. At the same time, although TASA was elevated within the governmental administration, its effectiveness relies on robust cross-ministerial collaboration and sustained institutional support.

The integration of space initiatives across government agencies demonstrates the growing recognition of space technology’s strategic importance. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has positioned itself at the forefront of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite manufacturing, capitalizing on Taiwan’s established semiconductor and precision electronics expertise. Complementing this effort, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) spearheads developments in telecommunication areas like 5G/6G, advancing crucial satellite communications infrastructure that will support future space-based services.

The increased engagement in space policy coordination from the Executive Yuan marks a further development in Taiwan’s space governance. This engagement manifested notably in the 2024 Strategic Review Board meeting on satellite communications policy alignment, which brought together stakeholders from NSTC, MOEA, MODA, and other ministries. This comprehensive approach signals an important shift: space development has transcended its traditional research-focused role to become a critical enabler across multiple industries and national policy domains.

To build upon this progress, Taiwan would benefit from establishing a permanent inter-ministerial space council. This council could effectively integrate with the existing whole-of-resilience committee structure, which is initiated by the president and addresses national resilience challenges through a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach. A model might be provided by the United States National Space Council, which is convened by the Vice President, incorporating cabinet-level officials.

The committee’s robust leadership structure positions it well to incorporate space development into Taiwan’s broader resilience strategy. With the vice president serving as chair, supported by the Presidential Office and National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-Generals as deputy conveners, and the Minister of Interior (MOI) as executive secretary, the committee maintains high-level oversight of critical national priorities. This is further strengthened by the participation of key stakeholders from MOEA, NSTC, Ministry of National Defense (MND), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), Ministry of Education (MOE), Ocean Affairs Council (OAC), Coast Guard Administration (CGA), Central Weather Agency (CWA), Taiwan Network Information Center, and Hacks in Taiwan Association, alongside representatives from academia and industry.

This diverse composition enables the committee to address space development’s role in enhancing national resilience across multiple domains. Space capabilities can strengthen ground security through enhanced surveillance and monitoring systems, improve cybersecurity through secure satellite communications, and advance maritime domain awareness through integrated space-based observation networks. The committee’s broad expertise allows it to identify and implement space-based solutions for these and other resilience challenges, ensuring that Taiwan’s space development aligns with and supports national security and economic objectives.

The success of such a collaborative approach is already evident in practical applications. The 2024 announcement on the partnership between the Ministry of Environment (MOEnv) and TASA for climate satellite development and PM2.5 monitoring demonstrates the potential of inter-agency cooperation. This model offers a template for expanding into other critical policy areas, including disaster prevention, resilience capability building, precision agriculture, and urban planning. Moving forward, to facilitate future collaborations, the agencies will need to develop sustained funding mechanisms and policy continuity, ensuring long-term impact and development of space capabilities.

Vertical Integration: Expanding Taiwan’s Space Industry

Taiwan’s space sector is experiencing increasing engagement from private and quasi-private entities, building upon the country’s established strengths in ICT and manufacturing. The sector generated NTD 215.8 billion in revenue in 2022, with over 98.7 percent derived from ground equipment supply. This concentration in a single segment highlights significant opportunities for diversification, particularly as the government pursues an ambitious target of expanding the space economy to NTD 1 trillion by 2029.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan’s leading industrial research organization, serves as a crucial bridge between technology development and commercialization. ITRI’s Beyond 5G LEO Satellite Program exemplifies this role, targeting advanced network capabilities of 15 Gbps by 2027. Additionally, through the TAcc+ International SpaceTech Startup Supporting Program overseen by MOEA’s Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration, ITRI has been facilitating global startup engagement with Taiwan’s space ecosystem since 2023. The program serves as a gateway for international startups to access local space opportunities while contributing to Taiwan’s space technology development.

A network of industry alliances strengthens the sector’s development trajectory. The ITRI-supported Taiwan LEO Satellite Industry Association (TLEOSIA) leads government-industry collaboration in LEO commercial opportunities, while the TASA-affiliated Taiwan Space Industry Development Association (TSIDA) coordinates aerospace, telecommunications, and ICT sector initiatives. The Taipei Computer Association (TCA) implements MOEA’s space industry supply chain development programs and supports local space startup incubation. Meanwhile, the Institute for Information Industry (III) enhances Taiwan’s presence in international satellite communications forums.

Taiwan’s major ICT companies are strategically expanding their space sector engagement. Foxconn demonstrates its capabilities through PEARL CubeSat deployment and LEO satellite component development while collaborating with MediaTek on innovative Software Defined Radio chips for non-terrestrial networks (NTN). Wistron advances space applications through its GEOSAT investment, as Compal focuses on integrating satellite communications with next-generation networks. Companies like Qisda, Acer and Quanta are actively investing in both local and global space startups. Among the beneficiaries are local startups RapidTek and Satoro, as well as US-based CesiumAstro. Government-affiliated venture capital is also contributing to space sector financing. Taiwania Capital, backed by Taiwan’s government, supports local space startups such as TronFuture, which specializes in all-digital phased array systems using active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology.

The academic sector is further driving industrial transformation through expanded educational initiatives. Taiwan has a strong foundation in aerospace engineering, with universities such as National Cheng Kung University, Feng Chia University, Tamkang University, National Formosa University, and more, playing key roles. National Central University has pioneered Taiwan’s first undergraduate space science program to augment an existing graduate program, while four institutions – National Cheng Kung University, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, National Taipei University of Technology (Taipei Tech) and Feng Chia University – launched space system engineering master’s programs in 2023. National Tsing Hua University is set to join this group in 2025.

The Ministry of Education’s University Academic Alliance in Taiwan (UAAT) is a consortium of twelve public and private universities building research and educational collaborations in key sectors with major university consortiums worldwide. The UAAT has further strengthened international talent circulation and collaborations in space-related fields as part of an integrated space technology project with the Texas A&M University in the United States and space science and technology-related projects with the Kyushu Okinawa Open University in Japan.

Still, achieving the 2029 economic target requires accelerating sector growth from 8.99 percent to 28.21 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through coordinated stakeholder efforts. This ambitious transformation demands a comprehensive approach to technology transfer and practical application development. Given the nascent stage of space applications, the government can act as an early adopter of space-based solutions in public services, creating private-sector adoption incentives, and fostering cross-sector collaboration in both technology development and commercial services.

Road Ahead

A cross-sector platform integrating government, industry, and academia perspectives on space development strategy and implementation would enhance strategic alignment and maximize synergies. The TAcc+ program could evolve into this role, building upon its established mechanism of convening agency officials, industry representatives, and academic experts to explore global startup collaboration opportunities. Expanding the program’s scope to include broader stakeholder perspectives would amplify its significance in driving Taiwan’s space sector development.

Through enhanced cross-agency coordination and industrial integration connecting governmental, commercial, and academic sectors, on top of its established manufacturing strengths and forward-looking initiatives, Taiwan can progress toward its ambitious economic targets for the space sector and enhance its technological and societal development. These foundational elements create the platform from which Taiwan can pursue the enhanced international partnerships and next-generation talent development.