Veteran Taiwanese textile maker Shinkong Synthetic Fibers is concentrating group resources on drones, a positive development for Taiwan's bid to capture a share of the "de-Sinicised" drone supply chain.

• Shinkong Synthetic Fibers is teaming up with group affiliates including its security services and hospital units, acting as both a drone manufacturer and a customer.
• Security firms can use drones for patrol and inspection, while hospitals can airlift medicines, blood and high-value medical devices — particularly useful in emergencies.
• Swiss operator JEDSY is moving into Shinkong's Youshi park, aiming to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains and comply with the requirements of the US National Defense Authorization Act.
• The joint venture's global headquarters is planned for Taiwan, with products targeting the global market rather than just domestic supply.
• The park already has factory buildings, an outdoor test field and a large indoor netted testing space ready, and international operators from Japan and elsewhere are in talks about moving in.

Outlook: The share of Taiwanese components and the mass-production timetable have yet to be finalised, but northern Taiwan is rapidly coalescing into a drone cluster.