COMPUTEX Taipei 2025 will be held from May 20th to 23rd at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. KIOXIA Taiwan will showcase its latest flash memory technologies and solid-state drive (SSD) solutions at booth X0001 on the 3rd floor of Hall 2 in the Semiconductor & Hospitality Suites.The exhibit will feature not only KIOXIA products and solutions but also collaborative solutions to show KIOXIA's prominent position in the industry and the AI-driven era. Visitors can expect a range of exciting breakthroughs and technologies.Memory Solution FrontierAs the AI Era is moving forward rapidly, and all kinds of applications are being deployed, more and more data will be generated, and flash memory is playing an increasingly critical role.KIOXIA, with a comprehensive portfolio of flash memory products and SSD solutions, the development of its flash memory technology has become more significant. KIOXIA's progressing flash memory technology will be brought to the visitors' eyes, including the innovative CMOS directly Bonded to Array (CBA) architecture featured in BiCS FLASHTM generation 8.Business SSD SolutionsData generation and preservation are now essential across a wide range of applications since it is the foundation of any kind of application and scenario. KIOXIA's SSD continues to evolve to meet the demands. KIOXIA will present visitors with the latest development* in the Flagship Enterprise Grade SSD product line – the KIOXIA LC9 Series SSD.*It is still under development.KIOXIA LC9 Series SSD is a 122.88 terabyte (TB) NVMe SSD in a 2.5-inch form factor and the first SSD built with the company's BiCS FLASH generation 8 3D flash memory technology 2 terabit (Tb) QLC die. KIOXIA LC9 Series SSD is designed for generative AI applications as it's built for high capacity and provides an interface designed with PCIe 5.0 technology with dual-port capability for fault tolerance or connectivity to multiple computing systems. The KIOXIA LC9 Series SSD also complements the recently announced KIOXIA AiSAQ technology, which enhances scalable RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) performance by storing vector database elements on SSDs instead of DRAM.Nimbus Innovation Award 2025 winner – together with its partners, KIOXIA's broadband SSD with an optical interface (Broadband Optical SSD) will also be showcased at the booth with its latest development of functional operation with the high-speed PCIe 5.0 interface. In next-generation green data centers, as an option besides the electrical wiring, interface using optical and broadband optical SSD significantly increases the physical distance between essential components, e.g., CPU and SSDs, while maintaining energy efficiency and high signal quality. It also contributes to the flexibility and efficiency of data center system design, where digital diversification and the evolution of generative AI require complex, high-volume, high-speed data processing.Personal Memory SolutionsWhile enhancing industry advancements, KIOXIA is also committed to empowering personal users to create unforgettable memories in all aspects of daily life. In the personal internal SSD segment, KIOXIA will show the latest mainstream PCIe Gen5 SSD, the EXCERIA PLUS G4 Series delivering read speeds of up to 10,000MB/s. It strikes a balance between high performance, power efficiency, and affordability — appropriate for consumers upgrading to next-gen platforms.The Red Dot Design Award 2025 and the Good Design Award 2024 winner, the KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS G2 Portable SSD Series, will also be appearing at the KIOXIA booth. It features a compact, elegant, and portable design that is appropriate for on-the-go users while maintaining performance and efficiency of heat dissipation.Furthermore, for microSD memory card solutions, KIOXIA is currently developing products that support faster data transfer speed modes. EXCERIA G3 and EXCERIA PLUS G3 microSD memory cards are expected to be the first ones to support faster data transfer speed. They significantly reduce data transfer times and are expected to debut alongside new compatible card readers. More information will be revealed onsite.A Collaborative EcosystemAdditionally, several leading ecosystem partners will jointly showcase their systems that are compatible with KIOXIA products at the booth to provide visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the vital role of KIOXIA's advanced technologies in today's AI and large-scale computing demands. As one of the leading manufacturers in the flash memory technology field, KIOXIA remains committed to advancing performance and delivering stable, reliable flash memory solutions.At COMPUTEX 2025, step in and discover KIOXIA's latest product breakthroughs and collaborative innovations designed to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving computing era.Join and witness the sparks of the future — Make It with KIOXIA!Notes*2.5-inch indicates the form factor of the SSD and not its physical size.*Definition of capacity: Kioxia Corporation defines a gigabyte (GB) as 1,000,000,000 bytes and a terabyte (TB) as 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1GB = 2^30 bytes = 1,073,741,824 bytes and 1TB = 2^40 bytes = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system, and/or pre-installed software applications, or media content. Actual formatted capacity may vary.*NVMe and NVMe-MI are registered or unregistered trademarks of NVM Express, Inc. in the United States and other countries.*PCIe is a registered trademark of PCI-SIG.*Other company names, product names, and service names may be trademarks of third-party companies.*Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services, and contact information, is correct on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.It's a new beginning with KIOXIAKIOXIA LC9 Series SSD

To cultivate a stronger foundation of artificial intelligence (AI) talent and encourage greater investment in AI research and development, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) hosted the inaugural 'Best AI Award Competition,' culminating in the finals held on May 3, 2025, at the Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1. This year's competition attracted participation from 1,253 teams spanning 36 countries. From this pool, 233 teams advanced to the finals, where they competed for gold, silver, and bronze awards, as well as honorable mentions, across the 'AI Application' and 'IC Design' categories. These categories were further divided into groups: Public Corporations, SMEs and Startups, Students, and International Teams.The Gold Award was bestowed upon eight winners: HiTRUSTpay, EYS3D Microelectronics, Daya Yoo, Jmem Tek, National Central University, National Taiwan University, Touch Lab (Philippines), and Arba Lab (UK).According to an MOEA press release, the 'Best AI Awards' aspires to be Taiwan's equivalent of the "Oscars for AI", embodying diversity, global reach, and a forward-looking vision. Its core objectives are to ignite the creativity of the next generation, foster stronger ties between academia and industry, and nurture a deeper pool of AI-savvy talent and innovative enterprises. Ultimately, the competition aims to drive the industrialization of AI and the adoption of AI across industries, thereby solidifying Taiwan's position in the AI landscape. The competition offers substantial prizes, with student group winners vying for up to NT$300,000 and winners in the enterprise open, startup and SME, and international groups competing for up to NT$1 million.Credit: MOEAAt the awards ceremony, Deputy Minister Ho Chin-tsang emphasized AI's accelerating transformation of the global industrial structure, impacting sectors from manufacturing and healthcare to finance and everyday services. He stressed the 'Best AI Awards' competition platform's crucial role in forging stronger links between talent development, technological applications, and industry demands. In response to the widespread anticipation for AI technologies, the MOEA seeks to foster a practical, application-oriented approach, encouraging innovative concepts to address real-world industry challenges. This strategy aims to continuously cultivate new talent and generate cutting-edge solutions within Taiwan's evolving AI ecosystem. Deputy Minister Ho also highlighted that the competition entries exemplify the fusion of AI technology with tangible needs and creative execution, showcasing the immense potential of translating innovative ideas into viable solutions. Looking ahead, the MOEA will sustain its commitment to facilitating the adoption of innovative solutions and maximizing their value through strategic policy initiatives and industry partnerships.Credit: MOEADirector-General Kuo Chao-chung of the MOEA's Department of Industrial Technology underscored the impressive international engagement of the inaugural Best AI Awards, attracting both enthusiastic domestic participation from enterprises and academic institutions and the involvement of 353 international professionals from 36 countries, including India, the Philippines, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This global participation establishes the competition as a vital platform for the international exchange of AI innovation. To expedite the industry's capacity building in AI talent and applications, the MOEA will not only continue to host the Best AI Awards but also leverage the pilot production capabilities of schools and research institutions to support businesses in design, new product development, and prototyping. Furthermore, the MOEA will collaborate with agencies such as the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration and the Industrial Development Administration to facilitate industry-wide AI transformation and develop practical AI expertise.Chiu Chui-hui, Director-General of the Industrial Development Administration, cited a report by the Artificial Intelligence Technology Foundation, which identifies the 'shortage of relevant technical talent' as Taiwan's primary obstacle to AI advancement. The Global Artificial Intelligence Index corroborates this, revealing that while Taiwan excels in infrastructure (ranking 4th), it faces challenges in talent (38th), research (27th), and commercialization (39th). Consequently, the Best AI Awards are designed to expedite the real-world application of AI and the cultivation of skilled professionals. Chiu emphasized the competition's significance as Taiwan's premier AI competition, characterized by its scale, prestigious awards, and high standards (with a highly selective 7.4% award rate). He expressed his hope for collaborative efforts across all sectors to broaden the adoption of AI and harness its power to drive industrial innovation.The 'Best AI Awards' entries spanned a diverse range of application areas, including information and communication technology (18.4%), manufacturing (16.2%), healthcare (15.9%), wholesale and retail (10.2%), education (8.6%), and finance (7.8%). This diversity not only underscores the application of cutting-edge technologies but also highlights the immense potential of AI to be successfully integrated into various industries.The gold medal winners' covered areas and their attempted solutions to problems are summarized as follows:CategoryTeamWork TitleDomainPain Points to SolveAIStudentNational Central UniversityRealization of Highly Flexible Production LinesManufacturing AutomationTraditional production lines are inflexible and struggle to adapt to rapidly changing and varied production needs.AI SME and StartupData YooFarmiSpaceFarmingEnhance the efficiency and management of agricultural production, and optimize agricultural resource allocationAI Public CompanyHiTRUSTpayVeri-id equipment id verification and real-time AI anti-scam/fraud serviceCybersecurity, FintechSolve device identity verification issues, and provide real-time prevention of financial fraud, thereby enhancing transaction security.AI_INTLTouchLab (Philippines)AI driven TOUCH System – Digitizing TouchDigitalization, human-machine interactionDigitize touch, enabling machines to understand and simulate tactile sensations, thereby enhancing the precision and scope of human-computer interaction.IC StudentNational Taiwan UniversityTernary-weight Transformer model software-hardware synergetic design and neural network accelerator IC design and implementationIC design, AI hardware accelerationDesign higher-performance, lower-power AI chips to accelerate the computation of Transformer models and improve the efficiency of AI applications.IC SME & StartupJmem TekArgusNPU – PQC security edge AI inference systemCybersecurity, Edge AI, AI IC designProvide AI inference capabilities with post-quantum security on edge devices to protect sensitive data and enable high-performance AI applicationsIC Public CompanyeYs3D MicroelectronAI Edge Computing Car Parking Management SystemSmart City Transportation ManagementUse edge AI to improve parking management efficiency, optimize the allocation of parking resources, and alleviate traffic congestion.IC_INTLArbaLab(UK)ArbaEdgeAI Edge ComputingRealizing high-performance AI computing on edge devices to reduce reliance on cloud computing, enhance response speed, and improve privacy protection.Source: MOEAThe winning entries of the 'Best AI Awards' showcased the dynamic development and diverse applications of AI technology, with particularly strong innovation evident in sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing, as well as in the burgeoning fields of AIoT and edge AI integration.The Ministry of Economic Affairs pointed out that looking ahead, it will continue to collaborate with industry, academia, and research institutions, hoping that the "Best AI Awards" can become an important annual platform to promote Taiwan's AI technology development, talent cultivation, and innovative applications, and to continuously discover more promising new talents. In addition, matchmaking events will also be held concurrently during the "COMPUTEX" exhibition every May, with plans to invite more than 20 domestic and foreign venture capitalists and buyers to participate, fostering in-depth exchanges and cooperation between participating teams and the industry, and further expanding the commercialization opportunities for AI innovative applications.Through this comprehensive strategy, the Ministry of Economic Affairs aims to expedite the creation of groundbreaking AI applications and the cultivation of interdisciplinary AI expertise, ultimately steering Taiwan toward its ambitious vision of becoming a globally recognized "AI Island". For the latest updates, follow the official LinkedIn page of the Best AI Awards.

Quebec-based startup Femtum, a trailblazer in laser technology, is carving out a critical role in the evolution of semiconductor manufacturing.Spun off from Laval University's Centre of Optics, Photonics, and Lasers in November 2017, the company was founded by Louis-Rafaël Robichaud and Simon Duval, who are respectively the CEO and CTO.Initially, the focus of the company was on the laser sources. Since it was a spinoff, it had more than 20 years of research that Femtum acquired through a transfer of technologies by licensing the IP from the university.Robichaud and other experts on the team bring a wealth of knowledge to Femtum, including laser engines, fiber laser engines, all the assemblies, and the processing steps that are required to make them viable."Still today, Femtum is the only mid-infrared short pulse fiber laser in the industry," he asserted, highlighting the company's unique technological advantage. This distinctiveness is crucial in addressing the intricate challenges of manufacturing next-generation semiconductors for AI and photonics.Femtum's laser solutions are engineered to enhance precision in essential processes such as trimming and cleaning. In the production of advanced components like Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), and silicon photonics, the necessity for meticulous cleaning is paramount."One dust particle can kill a full CPO package," Robichaud warned, emphasizing the potentially devastating impact of contaminants and the critical role of Femtum's cleaning technology in preventing defects and boosting production yield.Robichaud emphasized that where Femtum distinguishes itself from other competitors is the fact that it not only provides the laser source, but also the optical end, how to focus the beam, how to condition the beam, and a fiber beam delivery. "We have fast shutters. We have optics to focus it really well. We also provide a software suite, which is pretty advanced to do the laser cleaning and laser trimming," said Robichaud.Versatile in laser solutionsThe company's technology is not just about cleaning; it's also about enabling new manufacturing processes. "We can really enable new processes. Epoxy is widely used for the bonding of parts together," Robichaud explained, pointing to the versatility of Femtum's laser solutions.Femtum has already demonstrated the efficacy of its solutions through pilot programs with key industry players. Its partnership with ficonTEC, a global leader in fiber-attached systems, has been instrumental in validating the technology at wafer scale."ficonTEC is the leading supplier of fiber attached systems in the world. They're a German company. They're the suppliers of many of the biggest Taiwanese OSATs," Robichaud stated, underscoring the significance of these collaborations.Femtum is also collaborating with other major entities, including INO and C2MI in Canada, to further refine and expand the applications of its laser technology.As Femtum looks to the future, scalability is a key focus. "The aim of Femtum is to achieve a thousand laser solutions per year," Robichaud revealed, outlining the company's ambition to significantly increase its production capacity. This vision includes the construction of a new factory in Quebec City.Seeking strategic investmentsTo fuel its expansion, Femtum is actively pursuing strategic investments. "We are raising Series A as we speak, and we hope to close this round by the end of this year," Robichaud confirmed. The company is particularly interested in attracting Taiwanese investors, recognizing the pivotal role of Taiwan in the semiconductor ecosystem."Taiwan is a key market, if not the top three markets for sure for Femtum," Robichaud emphasized, highlighting the country's importance for the company's growth strategy. He also mentioned that Femtum already has distributors in Taiwan.Femtum's business model is centered on providing comprehensive laser solutions. "We are a Femtum inside play. We co-sell our solution together with the machine integrator," Robichaud explained. This collaborative approach ensures that Femtum's technology is seamlessly integrated into the broader manufacturing process.Looking for investors, Robichaud hopes to find those that are more than just financial backers. "We're not looking only for people that can provide money, but also people that can bring value to the company, open doors and make those strategic partnerships or strategic projects or customers or suppliers, things like that," he said.With its sights set on revolutionizing semiconductor manufacturing, Femtum is poised for significant growth, driven by its cutting-edge technology and strategic vision.