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March 30, 2026 | From iRet

Lawton Liao, General Manager of ICP, stated that the company’s global deployment strategy for iVPP and energy digitalization will further strengthen this strategic partnership with Advantech. Photo courtesy of StrategyWind Knowledge News Network.

Highly Integrated Hardware and Software, Driving Ecosystem-Based Expansion

Ching-Po Lin, Associate Vice President of Advantech’s IoT Automation Group, stated that Advantech values not only ICP’s strong technological expertise, but also its unique position as one of the few system integrators in Taiwan capable of spanning three critical domains simultaneously: traditional power utilities, internationally certified power equipment technologies, and emerging energy technologies (Energy Tech). Through this collaboration, the two companies are creating a milestone that symbolizes Taiwan’s new energy industry moving beyond conventional boundaries and entering a new era characterized by high-level integration and ecosystem-driven expansion.

Respecting Power Utility Standards, Strengthening Cyber Resilience

Lawton Liao, General Manager of ICP, noted that many startups in the renewable energy sector lack a sufficient understanding of, and respect for, the fundamental operating principles of power grids. In contrast, ICP has spent many years cultivating expertise in Taipower’s power automation and smart grid initiatives, participating in numerous critical grid digitalization projects across Taiwan. The company is also among the very few system integrators in the industry to have obtained both ISO 27001 Information Security Management and IEC 62443 Industrial Cybersecurity certifications.

This rigorous utility-grade mindset has enabled ICP to earn a level of trust that is difficult for competitors to match when supporting critical infrastructure such as power plant control systems, smart substations, and power transmission and distribution automation. Such capabilities not only provide modern power grids with a national-grade layer of cybersecurity protection, but also represent the foundation of trust that Advantech values most when selecting strategic partners.

Building a Grid-Wide Technology Moat for Global Expansion

Beyond its deep roots in Taiwan, ICP has also demonstrated exceptional international leadership. As one of the few system integrators in the market to have signed strategic partnership agreements with both Siemens and Siemens Energy, ICP’s technological capabilities and expertise have earned recognition from two of the world’s leading players in the energy sector.

Over the past two years, ICP has successfully expanded its footprint beyond Taiwan, extending its reach to smart substation projects for power utilities in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Looking ahead, as its strategic collaboration with Advantech continues to deepen, ICP’s software solutions will be tightly pre-integrated with Advantech’s edge computing hardware. This high level of integration is expected to significantly lower deployment barriers in overseas markets, accelerate solution adoption, and unlock exponential opportunities for growth and business expansion.

Virtual Power Plants and Smart Cloud Platforms Drive the New Energy Platform Economy

Beyond its strengths in system integration and channel development, ICP has also demonstrated a powerful software-driven advantage. According to Lawton Liao, General Manager of ICP, the company’s proprietary Intelligent Virtual Power Plant (iVPP) platform, which serves as its core strategic engine, is proving the robustness and completeness of ICP’s technological capabilities through successful deployments and project achievements both in Taiwan and overseas.

ICP’s iVPP is more than just a platform. It integrates three core competencies: system integration, software development, and AI-driven algorithms. This enables ICP not only to build and deploy power grid infrastructure, but also to optimize and orchestrate grid operations through AI, transforming distributed energy assets into digital resources that can be traded and monetized. Liao emphasized that this is not merely a demonstration of technological innovation; it is a means of helping customers transform energy assets from traditional cost centers into new profit centers, creating and advancing a platform-based economic model characterized by low marginal costs and scalable value creation.

Powered by Strong Capabilities, Three Growth Engines Drive Global Expansion

ICP describes its business strategy as being powered by three key growth engines, built upon a foundation of cybersecurity resilience and end-to-end power grid integration capabilities. Together, these engines provide strong momentum for the company’s global expansion.

The first engine is Infrastructure. Leveraging its extensive track record with Taipower and its dual cybersecurity certifications, ICP has established a strong position in high-barrier power engineering projects. This foundation not only secures stable operations and maintenance (O&M) revenue streams, but also creates a robust competitive moat for long-term growth.

The second engine is Global Solution Ready Packages (Global SRP). Using Advantech’s edge computing platforms as the deployment vehicle, ICP deeply pre-integrates its software core, cybersecurity baselines, and communication protocols into standardized solutions. Complex energy management technologies are packaged into turnkey SRPs, including Microgrid solutions, Energy Management Systems (EMS), and renewable energy monitoring platforms. This approach significantly reduces technical deployment barriers and manpower requirements for overseas projects, while enabling Taiwan’s successful experiences to be replicated and exported to global markets through a scalable, productized business model.

The third engine is ICP’s Intelligent Virtual Power Plant (iVPP) platform. Under a secure cybersecurity framework, iVPP leverages AI to aggregate and optimize distributed energy resources. As the platform’s asset base continues to expand, it will benefit from increasing network effects, substantially lowering marginal costs on a per-site basis while maximizing the value of energy asset dispatch and management. By supporting demand response, ancillary services, and other electricity market mechanisms in accordance with regulatory frameworks across different countries, iVPP enables customers to unlock new revenue opportunities within power trading markets.

Leading the Next Transformation of the New Energy Industry

Lawton Liao pointed out that the next phase of the energy transition will not be determined by whose equipment is the cheapest, but by whose systems are the safest and the smartest. Through its self-developed Intelligent Virtual Power Plant (iVPP) platform and proven track record across projects involving Taipower, offshore wind power, energy storage microgrids, and international markets, ICP has demonstrated that it is moving along a challenging yet steadily upward path. Advantech’s strategic investment not only represents a strong endorsement of ICP’s capabilities, but also signifies a shared commitment to accelerating the global deployment of Taiwan’s technological expertise and successful energy transformation experiences.

This collaboration also signals another paradigm shift for Taiwan’s new energy industry. The industry is evolving from the sale of standalone equipment toward the delivery of comprehensive ecosystem services that combine international cybersecurity standards, utility-grade engineering discipline, and intelligent iVPP control capabilities. Liao emphasized that by joining forces, ICP and Advantech will establish a new benchmark for the global energy market, one that brings together both security and intelligence in shaping the future of energy management.