With the support of the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) under Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the Institute for Information Industry (III) has continued to advance the R&D and practical applications of sports technology. By integrating AI, sensing technologies, data analytics, and hardware-software integration into golf training scenarios, III joined forces with Wu Fong Golf Course and Taiwanese golf technology companies to participate in the Taiwan-Palau Products and Cultural Exhibition in Palau from July 10th to 12th, 2026. The event showcased Taiwan’s smart golf applications on the international stage, highlighting the country’s integrated R&D capabilities in sports technology and its growing capacity to bring innovative solutions to global markets.
When digital technology meets golf, the sport is no longer confined to traditional golf courses. AI-powered analysis and science-based training can help golfers improve their athletic performance while reducing the risk of sports-related injuries. The Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) under Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has long promoted advanced technology R&D and industrial innovation. In line with the Executive Yuan’s “Taiwan Sports × Strategic Review Board (SRB) Action Plan,” the Department actively integrates resources across legal entities, industry, and real-world application sites, supporting the development of smart sports technologies from R&D and field validation to commercial applications and overseas expansion. These efforts are driving the upgrading of Taiwan’s sports technology industry and strengthening its global competitiveness. The “AI Golf Virtual Coach” and “AI Golf Fitness Assessment Service” showcased at the exhibition are two flagship examples of these R&D achievements being translated into real-world applications.
AI-Powered Training for Smarter Golf! Creating a Personalized Smart Golf Experience
Developed by III’s Digital Transformation Research Institute (DTRI), the “AI Golf Virtual Coach” integrates swing videos, simulator data, and sensor data. Through AI-powered motion analysis, micro-posture detection, and multimodal data integration, the system transforms information such as swing trajectories, body weight distribution, joint angles, and swing consistency into easy-to-understand training feedback. A mobile application presents users with their shot history, analytical charts, and personalized recommendations, helping golfers independently improve their skills while also serving as a valuable support tool for coaches in instruction, post-lesson follow-up, and training adjustments.
Another featured solution, the “AI Golf Fitness Assessment Service,” focuses on golf-specific fitness assessment. Using vision AI, the service establishes a standardized and repeatable assessment process to evaluate golfers’ physical functions and movement capabilities, while providing personalized training recommendations and mechanisms for ongoing monitoring. Unlike tools that focus solely on analyzing swing results, the service integrates golfers’ physical functions, movement limitations, training prescriptions, and athletic performance, which helps reduce the risk of sports-related injuries, improve training efficiency, and shift golf instruction from experience-based judgment toward a more data-driven and science-based approach.
The Taiwan-Palau Products and Cultural Exhibition, jointly organized by the Embassy of Taiwan in Palau and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), featured smart golf applications for the first time this year. Local residents and event participants had the opportunity to experience golf simulation, AI-powered swing analysis, and golf fitness assessment services firsthand. The showcase demonstrated how smart golf solutions can be extended to a wide range of settings, including shopping malls, schools, tourism destinations, training centers, and golf academies. By going beyond the constraints of traditional golf courses, these applications are opening up new possibilities for smart sports services.
At the exhibition, Wu Fong Golf Course served as a local venue partner, helping connect golf course operations and management with local collaboration opportunities and potential applications in sports tourism. Golf technology companies such as Golface showcased smart golf carts and digital management systems, collectively presenting integrated solutions that bring together AI-powered services, smart venues, and technology applications.
III indicates that the exhibition attracted considerable attention, with many visitors stopping by to experience the technologies and services firsthand. The enthusiastic response demonstrated the outcomes of government-supported R&D and the integration of research institutions, industry technologies, and real-world application sites. Looking ahead, government, industry, and academia will continue to deepen the application of smart sports services. Guided by a commitment to creating greater benefits for the public, the three sectors will work together to develop innovative service models for venues and technology providers, further advancing Taiwan’s sports technology toward international commercialization and cross-border collaboration.