TAIWANESE electronics giant - Advantech Co Ltd has major diversification plans to check against an uncertain global economy, which is now worsened by the Middle East tariffs, US import tariffs and climate change.
Hence, Advantech sees strategic expansion into regional blocs such as the ASEAN grouping as an integral part to cope with the market uncertainties out there, especially if it begins to reduce demand for embedded devices.
Speaking at Advantech's 2026 ASEAN Connect Conference at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC), Advantech's managing director of Asia and Intercontinental Region, Vincent Chang, its vice-president of the automation sector, Lin Chingpo and ASEAN region's executive director, Elvin Ng, said that having a diversified platform is the best way forward in dealing with the disruptive forces.
Advantech has a presence in many ASEAN members, but the trio pointed out that the main markets are Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Each has its niche, with Chang revealing that Singapore is its e-business and financial tech hub, Malaysia for its engineering prowess and Thailand for its smart city concepts - all of which have Adventech's attention and investment dollar.
Chang said that there is also attention accorded to Vietnam, which is fast growing as an alternative manufacturing hub due to the many Chinese production lines relocating there due to cost and logistical issues.
Side-stepping the concerns over the rising crude oil prices globally and the tariff wars, Chang said that the focus of the company is now centred on multiplying its investments and collaborations in various countries, especially ASEAN.
He cited that Adventech is also in the Philippines and Indonesia, but the pace has been slower compared to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
"I was in Saudi Arabia and Dubai last year, and now there is war there. I was also in Russia, and there is a conflict with Ukraine. There is much uncertainty out there, so we should focus on areas which can provide sustainability."
Advantech was established in 1983 in Taipei, Taiwan.
As a global provider of industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded systems, it is recognised as a major Taiwanese company, often ranked among the Top 20 Global Brands of Taiwan, a territory rich in electrical and electronics products.
Lin spoke of the arrival of Artificial Intelligence (AI), where the next phase would be AI as a working companion, which can perform certain job tasks which humans generally do; it would complement the existing working culture.
With that, there is a need to filter the AI ecosystem to be imbued with the right information, skills and analytical patterns to avoid the intelligence from being abused for the wrong reasons, said Lin and Chang.
There is also a need to use AI well in smart manufacturing.
The multinational also signed three memoranda of understanding (MoU) to accelerate industrial innovation across the ASEAN region here.
The agreements were sealed with Open Re Sdn Bhd of Malaysia, Get On Technology Co Ltd and Qonnect (BIIC Co Ltd) of Thailand and Pacific Automation Pty Ltd of Australia.
Adventech hopes the agreements can pave the way from technology development to execution, focusing on common standards, scalable solutions and commercialisation. - April 3, 2026.
