Taiwan’s safety and security industry is characterised by strong vertical integration with a complete range of upstream manufacturing plants that supply downstream assembly lines, according to the Taiwan Security and Safety Industry Association (TSSIA). This industry cluster effect not only enables Taiwan to deliver high value products, but it allows the island to satisfy customers with the most stringent demands. Strengthened by ever growing global market demands and supporting government policies, the safety and security industry is expected to be among the next prominent industries in Taiwan.

According to the references provided by the Topology Research Institute and Market Intelligence Center, Institute for Information Center, in 2008, the total output value of Taiwan’s safety and security industry as a whole was US$4.46 billion, and in 2010, the figure was estimated to reach US$7.61 billion, with total growth of 9.6% at the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2005 to 2010.

A report from IMS Research showed that starting from 2011, the increasing adoption of HD and megapixel video surveillance will be among the key trends shaping growth in the video surveillance market up to 2015 and further. Thanks to the island’s geographic location and IT industrial strength, Taiwan’s security industry has taken a leading role in the IP video surveillance business and seen a significant growth in exports around the globe.

According to the statistics from Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade, the island’s annual export of CCTV and video surveillance cameras and equipment increased by 37% in 2011. The key factors supporting this growth were Taiwan’s IP-related products/solutions and RFID & IP issued solutions with regard to access control.

Among the fastest growing brands and manufacturers in Taiwan are Vivotek, Geovision, and Everfocus Electronics Corp. In addition, there are a wide range of established video manufacturers in Taiwan providing quality and niche-spec video solutions to fulfill the versatile market demands in the global sector.

Increased focus on disaster prevention is also boosting Taiwan’s security and fire safety industry. With Taiwan’s growing emphasis on disaster prevention and mitigation, security equipment is becoming a larger focus in various government-supported advanced technology projects. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s individual protective equipment and explosion-proof equipment companies have been upgrading their products for high-end markets by initiating R&D cooperation with domestic and foreign research institutes.

Moreover, the industrial fire safety industry has the widest range of items and the longest development history in Taiwan’s security industry.

As wireless communication technologies mature, the future of the safety apparatus market increasingly lies in real-time and intelligent video analysis. Taiwan’s research institutes have been developing IVS (intelligent video surveillance) technology for years. By embedding real time video analysis into the video encoder, operators monitoring the control centre are automatically alerted once one of the cameras detects any abnormal activity in the scanning vicinity.

Taiwan’s information and telecommunication security industry comprises two main sectors: products and services. This includes intrusion protection and prevention, digital content management, information security assessment, anti-virus and anti-hacking attack systems, EC security, public key infrastructure (PKI) and security management services. Taiwan’s information and telecommunication security is no exception to the threats of computer hackers, cyber terrorists and predators that are ready to attack any system at all costs. Being aware of this fact, the industry strives to enhance its operation performance and develops the most effective tools to facilitate and extend the necessary support as well as boost people’s safety and security.

According to TSSIA, the security service industry is seeing benefits from cross-industry integration with fields such as intelligent living, property management, home entertainment, fire safety, and telecare. Therefore, the market outlook for Taiwan is optimistic among the rise of the future living and intellectual robotics industries, which are expected to drive developments in the security industry.

Built on a firm foundation of technological innovation and research excellence, Taiwan has for many years been the master maker and producer of numerous high tech products for the world markets. Having enhanced skills that match the standards of Europe, Japan, and the US, Taiwan is not only proficient at ODM but it dominates manufacturing and production in many key high tech categories. Decades of hard work and sound economic management have successfully transformed Taiwan into a dynamic player in the global economy, enabling it to serve also as an ideal partner for foreign enterprises seeking reliable, long-term business partnerships.

According to the TSSIA, In several assessment indexes released by world renowned international institutions, Taiwan continues to stand out for its growth competitiveness, business environment, and technology innovation, among others. In the 2010-2011 Global Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Taiwan was ranked 13th among 133 countries around the world.