Ultracompact and low-cost perovskite laser with low energy consumption is an ultimate goal for monolithic all-optical integration, and a cross-country team has confirmed that the key is the development of the crystal-fiber/nanoperovskite hybrid architecture, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).This achievement was published in the journal, Advanced Materials, in February 2021.The team, with support from MOST, is led Chien-Chih Lai from the Department of Physics and Department of Opto-Electronic Engineering, National Dong Hwa University), and includes two other professors from Taiwan and another from UCLA.Green energy and on-chip photonics have been two of the fastest growing fields in science and technology, according to MOST. Metal-halide perovskites and fiber-based devices are both integral to the development of next-generation energy materials and all-optical photonic circuits. A leading-edge 5nm complementary metal oxide-semiconductor platform was demonstrated by TSMC with a large production batch. This success is expected to be extended to all-fiber photonic integration, thus realizing continuous-wave perovskite lasers in a fiber configuration is imperative.However, because of the well-recognized air and thermal instabilities of perovskites, laser action in a perovskite has mostly been limited to either pulsed or cryogenic-temperature operations. They have the shortcomings of significant complexity, high cost, and complicated setup, which do not meet the criteria of green energy. Pulse pumping also implies that the system is larger than existing fiber devices, requires more hands-on maintenance, and is less reliable, thus increasing the complexity of integration with silicon microelectronics.The joint research team has successfully developed the first realization of a direct diode-pumped ultralow-threshold continuous-wave room-temperature perovskite laser, which can be easily fabricated by coating MAPbI3 nanocrystallites onto a high-quality YAG crystal fiber. The atomically smooth crystal fiber not only serves as a perfect microcavity for ultralow-loss optical resonance but also facilitates heat dissipation toward robust laser devices, outperforming previously reported structures. Additionally, with the demonstration of this device on crystal fibers, the proposed and demonstrated approach relieves the constraints imposed by thermal instability and the pulsed pumping requirement. Moreover, this hybrid device is expected to be promising for color-tunable crystal-fiber-based perovskite lasers that are much simple and cost-competitive for monolithically on-chip silicon integration.

FSP has long been committed to providing a wide range of reliable power supply solutions to help realize the future of smart living. Comprising hundreds of software and hardware engineers throughout the world, the FSP team is capable of delivering comprehensive technical support and service to partners. Taking market mainstream standardized and smartized power supplies for example, FSP's portfolio of power supply products feature expandability, digital control and communication capability in addition to high power density, high efficiency and resistance to harsh conditions, making FSP the designated partner of leading international firms.Mature image recognition and NB-IoT technologies are parking lots in Taiwan growingly smart. Surveillance systems automatically identify license plates such that car owners no longer need to retrieve and keep the parking token/slip and parking lot operators can save tremendous management costs. In the future, such smart services coupled with 5G mobile communication will allow one control center to simultaneously monitor multiple parking lots and remotely respond to car owners' needs, for example, opening the barrier gate. In view of enormous 5G opportunities, a slew of IT device suppliers are foraying into the 5G white-box telecom equipment market, attempting to grab business from traditional telecom operators. According to CJ Chen, product R&D, director, FSP, 5G network equipment is developing toward open source and standardization while telecom equipment is developing in a way more like IT devices. Apart from traditional telecom equipment providers such as Nokia, a lot of network communication device manufacturers are introducing 5G-compliant white-box equipment developed based on open-source solutions and network function virtualization (NFV) concepts. However, in the intense 5G equipment competition, vendors must speed up time-to-market or else they will fail to capture the rare opportunity.TC Chu, senior manager, product and marketing, FSP, noted that 5G equipment must be able to process a large amount of data within a short period of time and thus imposes rigorous requirements on power supplies. FSP provides a full spectrum of power supply products for 5G equipment. Aside from offering network equipment manufacturers standard power supplies that are compliant with safety regulations, FSP also provides a certain level of customization under the premise of not affecting regulatory compliance certifications. This allows network equipment manufacturers to focus efforts on its own product R&D and accelerate time-to-market to grab preemptive 5G opportunities while reducing subsequent maintenance costs for their equipment.FSP spokesman Wen-Chun Yao commented that FSP's technological strength gives the company an edge over the competition and allow FSP to quickly put together a power supply solution suited to customer needs. FSP is also capable of accommodating manufacturers' needs for customization, shortening the time it takes for them to penetrate into new market segments."For example, a well-known network equipment manufacturer approached FSP for joint development of an outdoor router power supply. Not only must the product comply with AT&T / NEBS safety regulations and be lightning and fire proof but it also has to operate in the temperature range between -40 degrees and 65 degrees C," said Chen. "After understanding the customer's requirements, the FSP team quickly made slight customization to the existing 450W Slim Redundant power supply and provided an ideal solution that's exactly what the customer needs without affecting safety certifications." By enabling minor customization to its standardized products, FSP increases efficiency and reduces costs while demonstrating its robust R&D capability, allowing FSP to perfectly address market needs.To keep up with rapid IoT and smart service advances, for the past two years, edge computing is growingly adopted as an ideal solution to promptly responding to end devices. For example, AI-capable edge servers in a smart factory can detect product defects on the spot. As 5G services become widely available, FSP thinks data centers will develop into large-scale or even super-scale data centers that support cloud computing and small-scale data centers that support edge computing.Large-scale or super-scale data centers need power supplies that are scalable, centralized and automated, not only for the benefit of maintenance cost reduction but also for administrators to easily stay on top of equipment conditions through remote monitoring. Power supplies for small-scale data centers will trend toward miniaturization and smartization while featuring energy efficiency, resistance against harsh conditions, high power density, wide operating temperature range and lightning protection. According to Chen, targeting applications in wide-ranging operating conditions, FSP offers hundreds of standardized products which are all certified for compliance with multiple safety regulations. For a diversity of 5G equipment, FSP has prepared corresponding power supply solutions featuring water and dust resistance as well as modular design. Coupled with minor customization to FSP's complete range of products, FSP is able to satisfy every need of the industry.In consideration of the diverse requirements of 5G equipment, FSP will also engage in strategic alliances with upstream, midstream and downstream partners to jointly provide total 5G solutions and thereby tap into the massive 5G market.FSP engages in strategic partnerships to jointly provide total 5G solutions

The global NAND flash market may still be oversupplied, but with SSD prices set to rise due to severe controller chip shortages, NAND flash prices will stabilize and start rising in the second quarter. TSMC's revenue hit a seven-month low in February, but the sum still repesents a 14% rise on year. Compound semiconductor looks promising, and VPEC chairman Jian-Lian Chen recently told Digitimes in an interview that epi-wafer plays a crucial role in the development of compound semiconductor.NAND flash contract prices likely to rise in 2Q21: NAND flash contract prices are expected to stop falling and begin to rise in the second quarter, according to industry sources.TSMC revenue hits 7-month low: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) saw its February revenues fall 15.9% sequentially to NT$106.53 billion (US$3.76 billion), the lowest in seven months.Epi-wafer key to compound semiconductor: Q&A with VPEC chairman Jian-Lian Chen: Compound semiconductor catches global market attention with rapidly advancing 5G and Wi-Fi communication technologies and rising IoT trends. Following first-generation semiconductor materials including silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) and second-generation compound semiconductor materials including gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP), third-generation compound semiconductor materials including gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) featuring high power density are taking center stage.

Foundry houses' attempts to expand 8-inch fab capacity to cash in on extremely strong demand have been prevented by limited suppluy of 8-inch equipment on the market. Chinese semiconductors firms are said to be willing to pay "unreasonably" high prices for second-hand 8-inch fab equipment, trying to outbid competitors. Component shortages have been marring production in many IT and semiconductor sectors. Samsung reportedly has told clients that short supply of controller chips has disrtupted its PCIe SDD productin. Despite the component shortages, notebook makers Wistron and Inventec still expect brisk shipments in first-quarter 2021.Eight-inch fab equipment still in hot demand: Foundries remain aggressive in purchasing 8-inch fab equipment and facilities including those from the secondhand market, according to industry sources.Controller supply constraints disrupting Samsung PCIe SSD shipments: Samsung Electronics has notified clients that production of its PCIe SSDs is being disrupted by tight supplies of controller chips, with the production unlikely to restore until May, according to market sources.Wistron, Inventec February notebook shipments remain brisk: Notebook ODMs Inventec and Wistron saw their shipments grow substantially in February 2021 compared to a year earlier, but decrease sequentially.

The whole world is watching closely 5G network development, expecting it to fuel future economic growth and drive advances in big data analytics and information economy. With 5G services kicking off in major cities, governments around the world are stepping up network infrastructure roll-out. Even in Taiwan, where 5G spectrum auction is lagging behind, multiple telecom operators have been offering 5G services in parts of the country starting second-quarter 2020.According to Chenbro, as a key player in the global mechatronics industry, 5G communication featuring high bandwidth, low latency and massive connectivity will give a boost to the performance of IoV (Internet of Vehicles) and a slew of other smart services while spurring a wave of data center build-up by cloud service operators.Eric Hui, vice president of global sales at Chenbro, commented that smart services that have been on the market for some time fail to deliver the benefits consumers expect as they are hindered by 4G transmission speeds. This is why the market has yet to see explosive demand for smart services.5G communication may be the answer. For instance, after 5G mobile services become available, China is seeing flourishing developments of Internet services, such as new generations of telematics systems and geographic information systems aimed to facilitate driving experiences.The increase in connected end devices will definitely put pressure on data centers that support the operation of smart services. In response, cloud service operators will purchase servers, AI servers, storage, switches and other infrastructure equipment to build next-generation data centers and support AI-based analytics and edge computing needs. To accommodate wide-ranging industry requirements, Chenbro is working with multiple customers on development projects and will be launching new products throughout 2021. The aim is to maintain its competitive edge as it ushers in the 5G era.Most consumers today have grown used to communicating via instant messaging apps such as Line and Facebook with their increasing popularity. This has led to a plunge in traditional phone usage, leaving most telecom operators worldwide unable to recoup their 4G investments. Nonetheless, 5G is poised to become the standard in the future. Telecom operators have no choice but to keep bidding for 5G spectrums and frequency bands to avoid being driven out by the competition.In the process of building 5G infrastructure, telecom operators face the challenges of having to renew their outdated server room equipment as well as deploy miniature base stations that cover small geographical areas. This is when Chenbro comes into play. Capable of providing original equipment manufacturing (OEM), original design manufacturing (ODM) and joint design manufacturing (JDM) services, Chenbro is the top-choice partner that many telecom operators go to.Hui noted, "In Europe, a great number of telecom operators struggle with the challenges in updating their data centers that have been in use for many years while doing so within limited office building space. Chenbro has a wealth of design experience and technological strength. With comprehensive design, sales and technical support teams stationed across Taiwan, the US and Europe, Chenbro is able to precisely grasp customer needs and deliver tailor-made services. A wide range of development projects that are suited to different telecom operators' needs are ongoing to help renew their equipment in their existing space."Furthermore, different from 3G and 4G networks, 5G supports Open Virtualized Radio Access Network (Open vRAN), which allows telecom operators to use white-box telecommunication servers to build 5G infrastructure. In view of this, Chenbro is collaborating with network communication equipment suppliers to develop white-box equipment and help telecom operators capture 5G opportunities.As IoT technologies mature and their costs become reasonable, many governments are making full efforts toward smart transportation projects to address the issue of overcrowding resulting from urbanization. They look to make use of IoV advances to address traffic congestions and improve road safety for both pedestrians and motorists. 5G communication featuring high bandwidth, low latency and massive connectivity can effectively connect network-capable vehicles and traffic signs, allowing traffic authorities to monitor traffic flows via cloud-based platforms and thereby reduce the occurrence of accidents.3GPP, in charge of developing mobile telecommunication protocols, announced 5G Release 16 on July 3, 2020 and plans to establish more complete standards targeting different industries including autonomous driving that is growingly mature. This is expected to expand the application scope of IoV. According to TrendForce, the number of connected cars sold in the new car market is projected to reach about 74 million units in 2025, an 80% penetration rate. The enormous market opportunities should not be taken lightly."As opposed to our earlier products designed for indoor use with no need to consider exposure to wind, sunlight and rain, IoV equipment operates outdoors so the casing must be corrosion proof. This is a challenge to the design team's ability in material selection and usage. We are confident with our ability to address such a challenge and work with partners to come up with solutions in line with market expectation," said Hui.Product demo center at Chenbro headquarters

Taiwan's PC monitor shipments are expected to fall 8.2% sequentially in the first quarter of 2021, after registering a 3.7% sequential increase in the prior quarter, according to Digitimes Research.Taiwanese makers together delivered 25.69 million PC monitors in the fourth quarter of 2020. The makers, out of concern about component shortages, expanded their component inventory and shipments in the fourth quarter.Although the volumes will slip more than 8% sequentially in the first quarter of 2021 because of seasonal factors, the volume will represent a 27.4% on-year increase, thanks to a low comparison base in the same quarter a year ago, Digitimes Research's figures show.Taiwan-based makers' shipments continue to lean toward large-size models with the 23.x-inch and 27-inch and above segments witnessing increasing shipment proportions. The combined shipment share of 22-inch and above monitor products reached more than 75% in the fourth quarter of 2020.Among Taiwanese makers, Wistron had the highest sequential shipment growth in the fourth quarter of 2020, up 24.1%, thanks to increased orders from Dell and Lenovo. Foxconn enjoyed the second highest sequential increase also because of order ramp-ups by Dell and Lenovo.For the first quarter of 2021, Wistron's shipments are expected to dip slightly from a quarter ago or remain flat, while other Taiwanese makers will all suffer from a between 8-10% sequential drop.

A strong focus at the Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2021 (MWCS 2021) was on how the telecom industry will transform and how communication technologies can be upgraded to meet the needs of 5G vertical applications, Digitimes Research has observed.Vertical commercial applications will bring real benefits to China's 5G network deployments, given the number of the country's 5G service users has surpassed 200 million, and it has already installed 718,000 5G base stations.Huawei reiterated its "5.5G" definition for the 5G technology. In addition to three traits of 5G applications - eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband), mMTC (massive machine type communications) and URLLC (ultra reliable low latency communication) - the Chinese vendor believes that 5G can be improved by adding other features, such as uplink centric broadband communication (UCBC), real-time broadband communications (RTBC) and harmonized communication and sensing (HCS).MWCS 2021 also highlighted the 5G vertical application market, focusing on C-V2X, industrial IoT (IIoT), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems and mmWave applications.China has promoted its national C-V2X standards since 2017 and has also established 16 national demonstration fields for C-V2X applications. It plans to roll out at least nine C-V2X-capable vehicles in 2020-2022. Meanwhile, China Mobile has begun to deploy integrated 5G+C-V2X RSU (roadside unit) base stations.For IIoT development, there is greater demand for improved 5G connectivity for AMR (autonomous mobile robot)/AGR (automated guided vehicle) applications. Meanwhile, ZTE showcased an ATG (air to ground) designated network for high-speed, large-broadband width transmission utilizing both 5G sub-6GHz and mmWave technologies.

5G achieves a 20Gbps downlink peak data rate (20 times faster than 4G), a latency as low as 1ms (one tenth of 4G) and a connection density of one million devices per square kilometer (10 times that of 4G) with enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC) and massive machine type communications (mMTC). On top of that, it supports network slicing, which allows different levels of services to be provided based on user requirements. These advantages make 5G an enabler of cloud computing, IoT, big data analytics, AI, IoV/autonomous driving, AR/VR and a diversity of other innovative technologies or applications.Changes in the radio access network (RAN) are a major item among what make the 4G to 5G transition different from the 3G to 4G transition, which only brought faster data transfer speeds. 5G communication has refined and separated multiple network functions to enable a more flexible network structure so that different levels of services or functions can be provided and network virtualization and slicing can be effectively implemented. Moreover, a baseband unit (BBU) is split into a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), which drives the miniaturization of base stations and allows the use of white-box equipment, helping telecom operators reduce capital expenditure.Multi-access edge computing (MEC) will play an instrumental role maximizing all the above-mentioned 5G benefits. In view of this, ADLINK, with long-standing leadership in edge computing, industrial PC, data acquisition (DAQ), machine vision and motion control technologies and long-term devotion into vertical OT solutions including smart factory equipment, is actively developing MEC platforms while engaging in partnerships with AI, autonomous mobile robots (AMR), autonomous driving, automated optical inspection (AOI) and smart healthcare solution providers to jointly form a complete 5G ecosystem and expedite advances of 5G-enabled smart applications across vertical industries.Qianqian Shao, product marketing manager of ADLINK's networking, communication and public business unit, emphasized that MEC is a critical element of 5G communication. It ensures that latency-sensitive applications such as industrial robots and self-driving vehicles can operate efficiently by performing instant data processing and analysis close to the source to allow decision-making in real time. It is no longer required to upload data to the cloud platform or data center so as to prevent risks resulting from data transmission latency and largely save network bandwidth.Joining forces with 5G ecosystem partners to accelerate private network applications in diverse use scenariosFeaturing small footprint and wide operating temperature range, ADLINK's MEC platform is capable of supporting core computing needs within the 5G network architecture while enabling GPU and FPGA hardware acceleration. It also implements the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol to support high-efficiency AI inferencing and clock synchronization throughout IP networks. System integrators can build applications/services to address all kinds of critical tasks on top of ADLINK's MEC platform.Shao added that ADLINK collaborates with ecosystem partners targeting a variety of application fields by providing hardware equipment and middleware. They have jointly built multiple application-ready platforms to help enterprises bring their private network applications to reality. For example, the Robot Operating System (ROS) running on optimized MEC platforms coupled with edge AI inference and low latency 5G communication accelerates AMR development and deployment and even achieves swarm autonomy. The AMR can carry out smart logistics tasks in factories, warehouses, hospitals, retail stores, restaurants and a slew of other application scenarios.Furthermore, leveraging its strength in edge computing and AI accelerators, ADLINK engages in close collaborations with multiple autonomous driving solution providers including autonomous driving software developer Tier IV and intelligent vehicle platform AutoCore to make use of 5G communication's low latency and massive connectivity features to develop high-performance and high-reliability autonomous driving applications.Making use of 5G communication's high-bandwidth, low latency and massive connectivity features, ADLINK's MEC edge computing platform will also expedite the advent of fully automated and unmanned factories as it helps connect diverse processes and workstations in the factory including AI-enabled AOI, AI-based process monitoring (operator behavior detection and analysis as well as object recognition), production equipment monitoring and diagnostics as well as material transportation by AMR.Apart from being used on 5G private networks, ADLINK's MEC platform can also be connected to public networks as MEC is needed on both types of networks but only with differences in how the platform is set up. For private networks, ADLINK's MEC platform serves as a DU to support communication access while acting as an application-ready platform. ADLINK and partners have worked together to help customers quickly build applications for specific use scenarios. For example, multiple smart factory proof-of-concept (PoC) projects in collaboration with several solution providers have been completed. For public networks, ADLINK's MEC platform also functions as a high-performance DU and provide edge computing capability. More than that, it fully supports data acquisition, transmission and processing under the premise that information security is guaranteed. ADLINK's MEC platform will accelerate the development of smart applications, bringing the futuristic scenes in sci-fi films to real life.More information on ADLINK's MEC platform: https://www.adlinktech.com/en/Edge_ServerQianqian Shao, product marketing manager of ADLINK's networking, communication and public business unit

Semiconductor manufacturing capacity has been tight, sending some major IC design houses in Taiwan seeking support from Chinese backend firms for packaging lower-end chips. Notebook vendors and ODMs currently do not have a clear outlook for second-half 2021 amid uncertainty arising from the development of the pandemic and component shortages. But they generally believe notebook demand in first-half 2021 will remain stable. Meanwhile, startups in Canada are keen to seek partnerships from Taiwanese manufacturers, according to Jordan Reeves, executive director of Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.MediaTek may seek capacity support from China OSATs for lower-end chips: Taiwan's first-tier IC designers including MediaTek, now facing increasingly tight capacity support from domestic backend houses, are expected to release some orders to Chinese OSATs JCET, Tongfu Microelectronics and Tianshui Huatian Technology in second-half 2021, according to industry sources.Notebook demand to remain robust in 1H21: Notebook brands and their ODM partners believe that demand for notebooks will remain stable in the first half of 2021 though at the moment they do not have a clear picture of the second half of the year due to low order visibility, according to industry sources.Connecting Canada startups with Taiwan: Q&A with Jordan Reeves, executive director of Canadian Trade Office in Taipei: The Canadian Trade Office in Taipei is endeavoring to accelerate collaboration between Canadian startups and Taiwanese companies. Canada's AI strength and car-manufacturing prowess and Taiwan's competitiveness in ICT hardware manufacturing are complementary and have great potential to create synergies.

The Canadian Trade Office in Taipei is endeavoring to accelerate collaboration between Canadian startups and Taiwanese companies. Canada's AI strength and car-manufacturing prowess and Taiwan's competitiveness in ICT hardware manufacturing are complementary and have great potential to create synergies.Jordan Reeves, executive director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, explained in a recent interview by Digitimes how his office is forging ties to benefit both Canda and Taiwan.Q: We learned that the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei has a new project to introduce Canada's startups to Taiwanese companies. Could you share the purpose of the project and explain why Taiwan has suddenly become important for Canadian companies?A: We launched a Canadian Technology Accelerator in Taiwan at the end of 2018. This is the largest single commercial project that my ministry - Global Affairs Canada - has ever funded in Taiwan. We have accelerator programs in Silicon Valley and Boston and have had lots of success there for many years. We wanted to bring this success to Asia. We were considering four locations (of which Taiwan was one) for this accelerator program. It was part of our economic diversification strategy. We wanted to see increased trade and investment with Asia.In recognition of Taiwan's important place in ICT value chains, and to build on a very successful foundation of science and technology collaboration between Canada's National Research Council and Taiwan's Ministry of Science and Technology over the past 24 years, we made the decision to launch an accelerator here in Taiwan.Our focus is on several areas, such as artificial intelligence (AI) applications, Internet of Things (IoT), or AIoT. We have also looked at several sectors which have potential for new business. ICT is one, health-tech is another. Many Canadian startups went to Silicon Valley, looking for financing. Taiwan was a little bit different. Their purpose here in Taiwan is to develop prototypes, commercialize prototypes, or for some, to find partners to scale up production. Others are looking for ways to reduce their research and development costs. We have a network in Taiwan now of 200 mentors, partners, and industry contacts. We have space at Taipei Tech Arena and have a partnership with Epoch Foundation and Garage+. I can tell you that, so far in 2021, a total of 150 Canadian startups have applied to come to Taiwan through our program.In addition, this is the year of Canadian-Taiwanese Innovators. We officially launched it in Tainan back in September 2020. It was a joint decision with Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua. The idea was to combine Canadian software capabilities and Taiwan's hardware engineering prowess, and to forge new innovation partnerships.Q: How many startups are included in this project? Are all the 150 companies that have expressed interest or approached you able to attend?A: No, we have a rigorous selection process as we work with our mentors and the CTOs of many companies in Taiwan. At the end of the day, we want to maximize the chances of success for these startup firms. This way, we know right off the bat that there are going to be deep business discussions when they come to Taiwan.Q: What are the benefits and opportunities that a collaboration between Canada and Taiwan firms can bring to both sides? Can you share some examples of companies interested in collaborating with Taiwanese companies? What results would they want to achieve?For our broader vision, there are some really exciting opportunities right now. There will be interesting innovations in areas such as electrical vehicles (EV). Many expect value of electronics and chips in EVs will be double what it is now in traditional cars. So it's very important for Taiwanese electronics companies to establish partnerships within this emerging sector with companies from other countries. Canada is the fourth-largest automobile exporting country in the world. Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler have recently made large investments in EVs in Canada. So, we feel that, in this particular area, there are many opportunities. We need to work more closely with Taiwanese electronics and ICT firms.Q: In which areas or verticals can Taiwan and Canada complement each other? What can be done to foster a deeper connection between both sides?A: We have quite a number of leading-edge tech firms in the automotive supply chain, producing all kinds of things, including sensors and imaging technology for autonomous vehicles. Immervision from Montreal, for example, with their 360 degree image-processing algorithm, can be applied to any type of camera. In seeing what we can do to bring tech firms like that to the EV and AV value chain and introduce them to Taiwanese initiatives such as Foxconn's MIH platform, for example.I would say digital health is another very important area. Many of the current IoT-enabled health solutions definitely rely on hardware for industrial computing and so on. That's another possible area for a lot of complementary businesses. And then there are areas such as smart manufacturing. Taiwan has a long history of manufacturing, whether it's bicycles, machinery and so on, and many of those companies are looking to apply AI solutions. Canada has real strength in AI. The Toronto area, for example, has the highest concentration of AI firms in the world by some estimates, with nearly 600 AI-focused companies.Let's take two examples to answer your questions. One is the Spartan Cube, a DNA analyzer, the size of a coffee cup. Samples are collected with a non-invasive swap, inserted in a single-use DNA cartridge. It is basically a PCR test. It was just approved by Health Canada on January 23. It is a portable testing kit, making it very easy to use. And within minutes it can produce very accurate test results for COVID-19.It is, in fact, a collaboration between Wistron, which manufactures its shell, and Spartan Bioscience in Canada. This is a perfect example of the sort of potential we see for collaborations between Taiwanese and Canadian companies. Software or intellectual property (IP) developed in Canada coming together with the right engineering partner in Taiwan.Wistron is also working with Canadian company B-Temia. That product has received Taiwan FDA and US FDA approval. Their product, Keeogo Exoskeleton, is a walking assistance device which is used to help people regain mobility after serious injury. It is selling quite well in Taiwan.Taiwan has been such a great partner for Canada. We are very excited about the possibilities going forward.Q: The trade wars and the pandemic have changed the world in a significant way. What trend have you spotted in the supply chain of Canadian companies worldwide?A: We all know that rising labor costs in China, US-China trade frictions, the development of new technologies, such as AI, EV, autonomous vehicles, the impact of the pandemic recently, and the concern of some governments to maintain domestic production of critical goods - all of these factors are contributing to changes in global supply chains.We see a real urgency and an opportunity for Canadian and Taiwanese firms to work together. Taiwanese companies are moving some of their current production and future production from mainland China back to Taiwan or to other markets. At the same time, the Canadian government has been encouraging Canadian companies to diversify their trade and investment toward and across the Asian region.We have real opportunities right now we did not have before. From a policy perspective, I should say that, in Canada, our policy approach continues to promote free trade, keeping borders open for trade and investment. Canada currently has trade agreements covering two-thirds of the world's GDP. In relative terms, Canada continues to be very open towards people through our immigration policy. For example, Canada is taking between 300,000-400,000 of immigrants every year. We haven't stopped, despite the rise of protectionism in other countries in the last few years. At the same time, Canada attracts tens of thousands of foreign students. We see it as a great benefit for the country.On the business side, we've made it simpler for Canadian companies and foreign companies to apply to bring in the engineers they need. Under the Global Skills Strategy program, the government of Canada responds in two weeks or less to applications to bring in highly skilled or specialized workers. Close to 90% of applications are approved. Canada remains an open place when it comes to investment, trade, and talent. This is an advantage for Taiwanese companies that make Canada a partner.Jordan Reeves, executive director of Canadian Trade Office in TaipeiPhoto: Michael Lee, Digitimes, March 2021