The trade show, held the last week of August in Taipei, had a record 550 exhibitors. “It is the age of intelligence and automation,” said Eric Chuo, chairman of TAIROA (Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association).

Chuo is also CEO of Hiwin Technologies, a components manufacturer. He said “robotics will account for 15% of Hiwin's revenues in 2014.”

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou visited the show (and is seen hugging a robot in photo above) and noted that robot output (components, systems and robots) in or produced by Taiwan-based companies totaled $32 billion in 2012, 43% of which were exports. He added that he has confidence that the figure could top $36 billion this year.