The Tech World pavilion at World Expo 2025 presents a vibrant mix of Taiwan’s nature, culture and cutting-edge technology.
World Expos are one of the few global gatherings that bring the world together for half a year to share a vision of innovation, sustainability and culture. The 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan, organized under the auspices of the France-based International Exhibitions Bureau, features more than 180 pavilions and thematic exhibits from around the world. Among them is the Tech World pavilion, a striking architectural and experiential presence that introduces visitors to Taiwan’s achievements in environmental sustainability, technology and cultural creativity.
The Tech World Pavilion, right, sits next to the Grand Ring, the signature structure at the 2025 World Expo. (Courtesy of MAYU Architects)
The pavilion is impossible to miss, even among the many visually striking structures that line the expo’s Grand Ring, and asserts its presence with a metallic mountain silhouette. The building, designed by MAYU Architects in the southern city of Kaohsiung and brought to life with support from Tokyo-headquartered architecture firm Azusa Sekkei, draws inspiration from Taiwan’s soaring peaks without referencing any specific one. “We wanted to create a symbolic form,” MAYU co-founder Chen Yu-lin (陳玉霖) explained. “Everyone carries an image within themselves that symbolizes identity, home and aspiration. Our design is open to individual interpretation, and that gives it universal relevance.”
The facade is clad in gleaming metal panels that shift in tone with changing light, evoking natural beauty through sophisticated material technology. The prefabricated panels are fully recyclable, minimizing environmental impact. A distinctly local touch appears at the entrance and summit of the pavilion in the form of serpentine, a dark green patterned stone sourced from eastern Taiwan’s Hualien County. “We incorporated a piece of Taiwan,” Chen said.
The staff uniform features leaf patterns inspired by Taiwania, a conifer endemic to Taiwan. (Photo Courtesy of Taiwan External Trade Development Council)
The immersive experience begins the moment visitors step inside and are welcomed by staff in clothing that reflects values of sustainability in both design and decoration. Garments feature leaf patterns inspired by Taiwania, an endemic conifer revered by the Indigenous Rukai community as the tree that touches the moon since it grows to astonishing heights. The fabric incorporates biowaste in the form of ground oyster shells from the southern county of Chiayi and hidden buttons allow for the sleeves to be removed to adapt to changing temperatures.
The technical brilliance of Taiwan’s industrial sector is on full display throughout the pavilion. The first stop within Tech World is the Life Theater, where Taiwan’s vibrant ecosystems come alive through hundreds of rotating tablet screens that surround a treelike structure and play synchronized images. The wraparound audiovisual projection offers a glimpse into Taiwan’s geological and ecological evolution from the ice age to the present day, with over 50 endemic species featured in a vision of harmony between humans and nature, setting the tone for a journey that fuses aesthetics with technological innovation. The tablets were developed by Taipei City-headquartered ASUSTek Computer Inc. and are animated by robotics from HIWIN Technologies Corp. based in central Taiwan’s Taichung City. Industrial Technology Research Institute, based in the northern county of Hsinchu, coordinated the elements of the show in collaboration with Taipei-based creative startup Okome Studio.
A projection of the symbolic tree in the Life Theater (Photo Courtesy of TAITRA)
The Future Theater highlights Taiwan’s indispensable role in the global tech supply chain. (Photo Courtesy of TAITRA)
Tech World also delivers an unforgettable look at how Taiwan has shaped the global technology landscape. The Future Theater offers a dynamic presentation on the pivotal role integrated circuits play in modern life. With over 4,000 chips embedded in everyday devices ranging from smartphones and TVs to electric vehicles, the theme underscores how integral Taiwan is to the global tech supply chain. “Chips are everywhere, and so is Taiwan,” Chiu said. “Our goal was to highlight this indispensable presence in an engaging way.”
The AI Gallery curated by Taipei-headquartered National Palace Museum offers a digital showcase of iconic local paintings with advanced display technologies provided by Hsinchu-headquartered AUO Corp. allowing startlingly lifelike digital reproductions of paintings like those by the three pioneering Taiwan painters chosen for the inaugural 1927 Taiwan Art Exhibition. Antireflective coatings and vivid color rendering techniques create a sense of depth and realism rarely seen in virtual exhibitions. AI tools also generate contemporary images produced in the styles of renowned historical artists to bridge past and present.
Guests can opt to wear a smart wristband developed by New Taipei City’s Leadtek Biomed Inc. that tracks their heart rate as they navigate the exhibits. The data is later analyzed by AI to suggest personalized Taiwan travel itineraries, such as national park routes for those who responded most to nature themes or urban exploration for those who reacted to cultural stimuli. “It’s an experience that adapts to the individual,” Chiu explained. “Technology is used not just to inform, but to connect.”
The 360-degree theater on the pavilion’s top floor brings guests to Taiwan’s highest peaks. (Photo Courtesy of TAITRA)
Tech World visitors receive themed gifts such as luggage tags. (Photo Courtesy of TAITRA)
The spirit of Tech World will be on full display Aug. 8 during its designated Pavilion Day, when the expo will host the large-scale live performance “Island of Light” featuring the internationally acclaimed Taipei-based Diabolo Dance Theatre. Combining acrobatics, music, dance and multimedia visuals, the 90-minute show paints a vivid picture of a future in which human society and the natural world exist in harmony.
From beginning to end, Tech World offers a multifaceted introduction to Taiwan’s creativity, resilience and innovative spirit. Through design, storytelling and technology, it conveys a message of global relevance, inviting reflection on how people, planet and progress can coexist. “There’s so much more to explore for anyone who has had their curiosity piqued about Taiwan,” Chiu said. “We’re ready to welcome the world to experience it all firsthand.”
Write to Oscar Chung at mhchung@mofa.gov.tw