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Taiwans New AI Certification Program Attracts 21,000 Applicants, Aims to Boost Manufacturing Adoption
More than 21,000 people have signed up for Taiwan’s new “artificial intelligence (AI) application planner” certification since the program launched last year, according to a statement from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). The certification, introduced by the Industrial Development Administration (IDA), is designed to train workers in the use of AI tools and basic programming for business applications rather than model development. The program has already certified 8,464 participants this year, up from over 10,000 in its first year, and the IDA director‑general Chiou Chyou‑huey said the number of applicants reflects the growing demand for practical AI skills.
The certification is offered in two levels. The entry‑level course runs four times a year, while the intermediate level runs twice a year. Pass rates for both levels average between 40 and 50 percent, Chiou said. In total, more than 21,000 people have enrolled across both levels since the program began. The IDA’s goal is to produce a workforce that can deploy AI to improve operational efficiency in Taiwanese firms, especially in manufacturing.
The initiative is part of President William Lai’s “AI island” strategy, which seeks to raise AI adoption in the manufacturing sector to 50 percent by 2028, up from the 6–7 percent level that was targeted when the goal was first set. Lai’s administration has highlighted Taiwan’s position in the Observer Global AI Index: the country moved from 21st to 16th overall, but remains 33rd in AI talent and 30th in business environment. The IDA said Taiwan is a global leader in AI hardware, but most of the chips produced are used by other countries. The ministry said there is still “considerable room for growth in how we apply AI ourselves.”
The government is also addressing the uneven distribution of AI adoption across sectors. The IDA has trained 700 to 800 AI consultants and plans to expand the team to 1,000. The consultants will help 14,000 businesses adopt AI over the next two years. The ministry subsidizes consulting services at about NT$410,000 per project, including up to NT$100,000 that companies can use to purchase software. The IDA emphasized that firms should focus on selecting tools that fit their operational needs rather than deploying the most advanced systems. “Having more AI tools isn’t necessarily better,” Chiou said. “The key is using the right tool for the right purpose.”
Unlike developer certifications offered by companies such as Microsoft and Nvidia, the IDA program focuses on application‑oriented skills. The ministry said the certification teaches participants how to use AI tools and simple programming to improve business operations. The program is intended to fill a skills gap that has become apparent as the AI boom has benefited mainly the semiconductor and high‑tech sectors, while many traditional industries and small and medium‑sized enterprises remain in the early stages of AI adoption. The IDA said the program is a step toward narrowing that gap.
The ministry also noted that the AI adoption curve in Taiwan shows an M‑shaped pattern, with high uptake in semiconductor and high‑tech firms but lower penetration in traditional sectors and small‑to‑medium enterprises. The certification program is intended to address this imbalance by equipping workers with tools that can be applied across a range of industries.
At present, the certification has attracted a large number of applicants and has already produced a sizable cohort of certified professionals. The ministry plans to continue expanding the program, increase the number of consultants, and support more businesses in adopting AI. The next steps include monitoring the impact of the certification on manufacturing adoption rates and evaluating whether the subsidized consulting model effectively accelerates AI implementation across Taiwan’s diverse industrial landscape.
The certification is offered in two levels. The entry‑level course runs four times a year, while the intermediate level runs twice a year. Pass rates for both levels average between 40 and 50 percent, Chiou said. In total, more than 21,000 people have enrolled across both levels since the program began. The IDA’s goal is to produce a workforce that can deploy AI to improve operational efficiency in Taiwanese firms, especially in manufacturing.
The initiative is part of President William Lai’s “AI island” strategy, which seeks to raise AI adoption in the manufacturing sector to 50 percent by 2028, up from the 6–7 percent level that was targeted when the goal was first set. Lai’s administration has highlighted Taiwan’s position in the Observer Global AI Index: the country moved from 21st to 16th overall, but remains 33rd in AI talent and 30th in business environment. The IDA said Taiwan is a global leader in AI hardware, but most of the chips produced are used by other countries. The ministry said there is still “considerable room for growth in how we apply AI ourselves.”
The government is also addressing the uneven distribution of AI adoption across sectors. The IDA has trained 700 to 800 AI consultants and plans to expand the team to 1,000. The consultants will help 14,000 businesses adopt AI over the next two years. The ministry subsidizes consulting services at about NT$410,000 per project, including up to NT$100,000 that companies can use to purchase software. The IDA emphasized that firms should focus on selecting tools that fit their operational needs rather than deploying the most advanced systems. “Having more AI tools isn’t necessarily better,” Chiou said. “The key is using the right tool for the right purpose.”
Unlike developer certifications offered by companies such as Microsoft and Nvidia, the IDA program focuses on application‑oriented skills. The ministry said the certification teaches participants how to use AI tools and simple programming to improve business operations. The program is intended to fill a skills gap that has become apparent as the AI boom has benefited mainly the semiconductor and high‑tech sectors, while many traditional industries and small and medium‑sized enterprises remain in the early stages of AI adoption. The IDA said the program is a step toward narrowing that gap.
The ministry also noted that the AI adoption curve in Taiwan shows an M‑shaped pattern, with high uptake in semiconductor and high‑tech firms but lower penetration in traditional sectors and small‑to‑medium enterprises. The certification program is intended to address this imbalance by equipping workers with tools that can be applied across a range of industries.
At present, the certification has attracted a large number of applicants and has already produced a sizable cohort of certified professionals. The ministry plans to continue expanding the program, increase the number of consultants, and support more businesses in adopting AI. The next steps include monitoring the impact of the certification on manufacturing adoption rates and evaluating whether the subsidized consulting model effectively accelerates AI implementation across Taiwan’s diverse industrial landscape.
