ITRI becomes Green UAS evaluation body under U.S. drone program

Taipei, June 4 (CNA) Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) said Thursday it has become an authorized Green UAS evaluation body under a U.S. drone industry certification program.

In addition, the institute signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with state-backed Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC), formally launching collaboration on Green UAS testing and validation.

The announcement was made during the Taiwan UAS Assessor Launch Ceremony held in Taipei, organized by ITRI.

Green UAS is a cybersecurity and supply-chain compliance certification program for commercial and non-defense drones, created by the U.S.-based Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).

The designation makes Taiwan the first evaluation body recognized outside the United States, helping local companies obtain certification and expand into the U.S. and global markets, ITRI said.

According to ITRI Chairman Wu Tsung-tsong (吳政忠), the official launch of the Green UAS evaluation body marks a key starting point for Taiwan's drone industry to become part of a trusted global supply chain.

The certification mechanism, Wu said, brings three key benefits to the industry -- helping companies align with international standards, strengthening trusted supply chain resilience, and driving technological upgrading by systematically improving cybersecurity capabilities and product quality.

Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Ho Chin-tsang (何晉滄), who also attended the event, said global geopolitical and economic changes have prompted countries to reassess supply chain security and resilience, creating a strategic opportunity for Taiwan.

The government is promoting an Asia drone supply chain center to leverage Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing and systems integration strengths, with the aim of enhancing the industry's international competitiveness and building a secure industrial ecosystem, he said.