On 22 December 2025, two YCAPS members were keynote speakers at the Taiwan Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) 2025 Ocean Technology Project Achievement Presentation in Kaohsiung.
The OAC is a government agency integrating the Coast Guard Administration, Ocean Conservation Administration, and National Academy of Marine Research into government maritime policy. At the Achievement Presentation, Taiwanese researchers from academia, industry, and government presented the results of their projects with a variety of maritime applications. For example, solutions were presented for powering seabed sensors with solar arrays, and connecting hydrographic sensors with underwater optical communications, highly-directional antennas, and internet of things (IoT) technology. The breadth of the OAC portfolio was further illustrated through research into microplastic detection and monitoring herpes in sea turtles.
YCAPS Director of Policy Studies Dr. Stephen Nagy presented his research on dark vessel detection technology. Professor Nagy introduced proven solutions combining space-based sensors with surface and subsurface unmanned vehicles to greatly increase a government’s ability to monitor the maritime domain for vessels not properly reporting their position or activities. He also outlined the policy framework that would allow such technology to be introduced by new governments.
YCAPS Senior Research Fellow Jim Hartman gave the audience a view of oceans from a naval perspective. Navies think in terms of missions such as maritime domain awareness, logistics, strike into the sea, and strike from the sea. Some of these missions overlap greatly with those of OAC and other government agencies. But Mr. Hartman pointed out that even for more purely naval missions, the technology being presented through OAC auspices also has naval applications. Hartman encouraged the researchers to offer their technology in head-to-head international competition, for example in exercises, as navies have interest in this tech.
More information on the event can be found at the OAC event page.(Mandarin)
If you would like to watch the presentations, you can do so at the Youtube event video page. Dr. Nagy's talk is from 00:41:18, Mr. Hartman's talk is from 04:02:55.