Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-Cheng extended his U.S. visit with a stop to SRI International, often referred to as the “Soul of Silicon Valley.” Mayor Chang was deeply impressed by SRI’s focus on cutting-edge technological research and its vast pool of expert talent, which serves industries, governments, and academia around the globe. During the visit, Mayor Chang highlighted SRI’s role in leading the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, which brings together resources from various sectors to build a robust ecosystem and supply chain. He expressed his hope to leverage this exchange to connect Taoyuan’s universities with global tech developments, contributing to advancements in science and technology worldwide.
Mayor Chang emphasized the importance of cybersecurity infrastructure for both businesses and government agencies, noting that the Quantum Economic Development Consortium provides an ideal platform for collaboration. He is hopeful that this visit will serve as a bridge to foster deeper cooperation between SRI and Taoyuan’s academic institutions, providing a global stage for Taiwan’s top talent to contribute to technological innovation.
After the visit to SRI, Mayor Chang and his delegation toured Tesla’s Fremont Factory, the company’s very first manufacturing plant. Originally a General Motors factory, it later became a joint venture between GM and Toyota before officially becoming Tesla’s vehicle assembly plant in 2010. Today, the facility produces over a million electric vehicles annually.
During the tour, Mayor Chang observed Tesla’s automated production line and learned about the vehicle assembly process, which utilizes numerous robotic arms to increase precision, accelerate production, and minimize potential human errors. He remarked that the wave of digital transformation presents significant challenges to traditional industries. By visiting Tesla, he hopes to draw on their expertise in smart manufacturing and modular production as a reference for upgrading and transforming Taoyuan’s industrial sector.