cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/9862281

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Taiwan’s importance in the artificial intelligence (AI) era now extends beyond semiconductor fabrication. The island plays a central role in several parts of the physical infrastructure that AI depends on, including leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing, advanced chip packaging, AI server production, and the energy-efficient hardware systems needed to train and run advanced AI models.

Taiwan now explicitly links semiconductors, AI, security technologies, and next-generation communications under its Five Trusted Industry Sectors plan, with the goal of making Taiwan an “indispensable and trusted technological partner” for democracies. The island is no longer presenting itself merely as a chip manufacturer; it is positioning itself as a trusted AI hardware ecosystem.

For Canada, the opportunity is not to replicate Taiwan’s semiconductor model, but to build targeted partnerships around the adjacent capabilities that AI infrastructure increasingly needs, including AI-semiconductor research, photonics, compound semiconductors, critical minerals, and clean technology. This would move Canada–Taiwan co-operation beyond general supply-chain resilience toward a more focused agenda of technological complementarity.

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For Canada, Taiwan’s AI-chip nexus creates an opportunity to move beyond a conventional supply-chain resilience agenda toward a more targeted strategy of technological complementarity.

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The most concrete foundation for deeper co-operation is research collaboration at the AI-semiconductor interface. In 2026, NSERC and Taiwan’s NSTC launched a joint call on semiconductors and AI, with each side committing up to C$1 million and up to C$225,000 per three-year project. The call is notable for how it frames the relationship: Canada’s AI strengths and Taiwan’s semiconductor expertise are to be brought together to co-develop AI-driven semiconductor solutions.

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Another promising area is photonics and compound semiconductors. Canada’s own critical-minerals and semiconductor strategy highlights domestic strengths in R&D, design, specialized manufacturing, and advanced packaging, and notes that the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre is North America’s only end-to-end pure-play compound semiconductor foundry. Canada also has capabilities in indium phosphide, gallium arsenide, and gallium nitride.

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As an addition, the cultural ties between Canada and Taiwan are strong. Last weekend, Taiwan held its annual festival in the capital Taipei, marking Canada Day on July 1 which is traditionally held on the nearest Saturday. It is organized each year by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (CCCT) in partnership with the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT), with support from volunteers and corporate sponsors.

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“There are roughly 60,000 Canadians in Taiwan,” Sean Kelly told Kaohsiung Times. “We are passionate about sharing our food, drinks, and culture with people in our adopted home. Seeing so many people from all over the world talking, eating, smiling, and dancing, even when it rains, makes it worth the months of work it takes to put on an event like this.”

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Marie-Louise Hannan, executive director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT), noted that 2026 marks both Canada’s 159th birthday and the office’s 40th anniversary in Taiwan. She said the festival gives Taiwanese a chance to experience Canada’s diversity while celebrating four decades of ties between Canada and Taiwan.

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