A representative from Helsinki’s city-owned innovation company has visited Taiwan to examine the country’s robotics sector and explore opportunities for cooperation.
Aleksis Pillai, Project Manager at Forum Virium Helsinki, attended Automation Taipei 2026, held from 19 to 22 August.
During the exhibition, Pillai toured stands operated by Taiwanese companies working with the Industrial Technology Research Institute, known as ITRI, on the development of different types of robots.
He was accompanied by Su Huang, Deputy General Director of ITRI’s Southern Region Campus. According to the Taipei Representative Office in Finland, Pillai praised Taiwan’s robotics research and expressed interest in strengthening exchanges between Taiwanese and Finnish organisations.
His wider visit also included meetings concerning startups, smart-city applications and smart-port technology.
Pillai manages Forum Virium Helsinki’s Urban Mobile Robotics project. The initiative allows companies to develop and test robots in real urban environments in the Finnish capital while supporting the international growth of startups and small businesses.
The project runs from April 2025 until May 2027 in partnership with the City of Helsinki and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. It is financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
No formal agreement or joint robotics project was announced during the Taiwan visit.
Sources: Taipei Representative Office in Finland and Forum Virium Helsinki
