Zeiss to expand in Taiwan, announce AI investment in May

Taipei, April 30 (CNA) Zeiss, a Germany-headquartered manufacturer of optical and optoelectronics products, is planning to expand its workforce in Taiwan and will announce a new artificial intelligence plan in May as it increases its investment in the country.

Zeiss Taiwan head Cheong Peng Tat (章平達) said Tuesday at a press briefing that Taiwan is the fifth market in the world where all five of the company's business divisions -- glasses, health care, microscopy solutions, industrial measuring, and semiconductor equipment -- are represented.

As of the end of 2024, Zeiss Taiwan had a workforce of about 400, up from only 30-40 in 2018, and that will continue to increase to 450 by the end of this year, Cheong said.

After pledging in 2024 to invest NT$10 billion (US$312.5 million) in Taiwan over the next 10 years, Zeiss will announce a new AI-related investment plan in May to build Taiwan into a global hub of AI technology development for the launch of new AI products, Cheong said.

Echoing Cheong, Clive Yen (嚴子登), head of Zeiss Taiwan's industrial quality solutions division, said the new AI investment plan is aimed at enhancing Zeiss Taiwan's ability to certify AI products and improve quality control in the field.

Yen said the AI investment plan is expected to help Zeiss take on challenges created by many AI applications, including printed circuit boards (PCB), liquid cooling solutions, connectors and AI server rack development.

The AI investment plan will follow an innovation center that Zeiss opened in the Hsinchu Science Park in 2024 to meet the productivity needs of semiconductor research & development (R&D), production, and failure analysis (FA) in Taiwan.

Commenting on the innovation center, Henry Cai (蔡慧), head of Zeiss Taiwan's research microscopy solutions division, said it has provided Zeiss clients with FA services but also helped the parent company better understand client needs to develop customized products.

Regarding the Trump administration's tariff policy, Cheong admitted Zeiss will face an impact in the short term but said its global network will help the company take on related challenges.

Cai said he expected Zeiss' supply chain to stay stable even if the tariff concerns are expected to affect inventories.

Yen said as clients diversify production to ease the impact resulting from geopolitical unease, their new investments are expected to boost demand for new equipment and benefit Zeiss.