Taiwan's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and StanShih Foundation, established by Acer founder Stan Shih, on March 20 jointly hosted a three-day training camp on entrepreneurship via online conferencing, avoiding a physical meetings in response to the coronavirus outbreak.The activity has been hosted half-yearly since 2013, and has so far trained 560 teams and incubated 190 startups. The organizers have also recruited outside investors to invest over NT$3 billion (US$98.98 million) to help these teams and startups over the past seven years.MOST minister Liang-gee Chen and content promotion platform Taboola's vice president Ning Ning Yu both participated in the event to share their experiences.Taboola vice president Ning Ning YuPhoto: NAR Labs

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, 5G chip vendors still have high expectations for 2020. But until the pandemic eases and end-maket demand recovers, the vendors are under pressure to cut 5G chip prices in order to secure orders. But not all are suffering because of the virus. Phison Electronics has reported clear order visibility extending to October for NAND flash controller chips, with clients eager to build up inventory.5G chip vendors mulling price cuts: Despite the coronavirus pandemic, market watchers remain upbeat about the market for 5G mobile chips in 2020. Nevertheless, major chip suppliers have been mulling reducing prices in order to secure more orders, according to industry sources.Phison sees clear order visibility for NAND flash controllers through October: Taiwan-based NAND flash controller chips vendor Phison Electronics has seen clear order visibility through October, as clients in Europe and the US have rushed their orders to build inventories amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic, according to company chairman KS Pua.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2018 began to promote installing smart machine boxes (SMBs) on manufacturing equipment to boost development of smart machinery, but SMBs alone are insufficient to completely reach smart manufacturing, according to industry sources.SMBs mainly function for production management by virtue of web-based visual display and analysis of collected operating data, the sources said. However, the data do not reflect the entire production process of production, which also involves workers, components and materials handling, and disposal of wastewater or waste materials, the sources said.For example, components and materials are in any of the four statuses: manufacturing, quality inspection, being conveyed and waiting, and manufacturing status, the only one of the four to make real value contribution, usually takes up less than 10% of the whole time incurred.According to smart manufacturing solution developer Servtech, component/material management, such as efficiently feeding and switching them to minimize waiting time, is crucial to smooth production and a blind spot easily neglected.

LED firms are generally optimistic about mini LEDs, expanding wafer, chip and packaging capacity for the segment. Apple reportedly prefers mini LED to OLED for its medium-size devices and will launch an iPad Pro with mini LED backlighting in the fourth quarter of 2020. For Apple's freshly launched iPad Pro, its suppliers are ramping up shipments for the new tablets, with their volumes to the vendor expected to rise 40% sequentially in the second quarter. With the needs for working and learning from home rising amid the coronavirus pandemic, IT devices, such as tablets, are expected to see demand pick up. And EIH is expanding production capacity for color e-paper solutions for e-book readers.Mini LED expected to get significant boost from Apple adoption: Mini LED is expected to get a significant boost in applications as Apple is proceeding with R&D of devices adopting mini LED backlighting, and may commercialize more such devices in the next five years, according to industry sources.Supply chain ramping up shipments for iPad Pro: Makers in the supply chain for Apple's just-unveiled iPad Pro are ramping up their shipments, and the volume for the new tablet series from the suppliers will climb about 40% sequentially in the second quarter, according to industry sources.EIH expanding colored e-paper solution capacity for e-book readers: E Ink holdings (EIH) is expanding its production capacity for colored e-paper solutions dedicated to e-book reader and other new applications, according to company sources.

Belgium-based developer of 3D printing technology Materialise has designed a 3D printed door opener that allows people to use their arms to open and shut doors without touching the doorknobs, according to Taiwan's Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association (PIDA).This can avoid coming into contact with the coronavirus that is believed to be able to stay on the surface of doorknobs for a long time, PIDA said.Materialise has called for 3D printing service providers around the world to use its design to print the opener, PIDA said.Isinnova, an Italy-based startup, has designed a 3D printed respirator valves and reportedly has printed 100 units for a hospital in Brescia, northern Italy. The hospital, which has a large number of coronavirus patients, needs many respirator valves, each of which can be used for up to eight hours only. The cost for a 3D printed valve reportedly is less than EUR1 (US$1.13).

AR glasses have a significant role to play in cushioning impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on manufacturing operations, as they can be used for remote collaboration between equipment engineers and users to quickly address mechanical failures, according to Tom Liang, chairman of Taiwan-based AR smart glasses maker Jorjin Technologies.Liang said manufacturers usually have to wait for engineers from equipment suppliers to come in person to fix mechanical failures as users can hardly determine the causes of the failures.But through AR smart glasses, engineers can remotely inspect the situations and instruct users on how to locate and fix problems or even replace components, not only saving high errand expenses by engineers but also sharply reducing equipment downtime, according to Liang.The remote collaboration function of AR smart glasses allows engineers of equipment suppliers to help global clients with maintenance of old machinery systems or installation of new ones without going out, Liang said, stressing this can prevent the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.Liang also disclosed that during the extended Lunar New Year holiday in Februay, Jorjin's Chinese subsidiary Top Smart Technology and its partner Kedu Healthcare Tech in Shanghai successfully addressed failures of two computerized tomographic scanners for a hospital there within 20 hours through the assistance of smart AR glasses, compared to 2-3 days usually needed for engineers to fix in person.

Within the semiconductor ecosystem, TSMC is a barometer occupying a pivotal place giving it a comprehensive picture of the direction and outlook of the chip maket, and expectations of its clients - including powerhouses Apple, Nvidia, ADM, Qualcomm and Huawei. The foundry house has not yet revised its first-quarter 2020 guidance, but it remains to be seen whether TSMC will turn pessimistic in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. For PC vendors, the first half of 2020 will probably be a disappointing period with shipments set to nosedive. Worse could be lying ahead for the PC market if the pandemic cannot be contained soon. And Asustek estimates its first-quarter revenues will drop 30% on year with PC shipments to fall 40% sequentially.TSMC outlook seen as indicator for 2H20 market conditions: Whether TSMC will turn pessimistic about its outlook this year will be an indicator suggesting how the coronavirus spread is impacting the pure-play foundry's target markets, according to industry observers.Global PC sales to plunge 30% in 1H20: Global PC sales are set to fall over 30% on year in the first half of 2020, due to poor sales in China, Europe and the US in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, according to industry sources.Asustek expects 30% revenue decline in 1Q20: Asustek Computer expects to post a revenue decline of about 30% on year in the first quarter of 2020, with shipments of its PCs to see a 40% decrease sequentially.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in 2018 began promoting installation of smart machine boxes (SMBs) on machines as the first step to boosting development of smart machinery in Taiwan, and beginning 2020 the SMBs will get upgraded functions and standardized format interfaces, according to government-sponsored Smart Machinery Promotion Office (SMPO).Initial SMBs focus on production management, with primary functions being visualization of machines' operating conditions and utilization, output statistics and automatic notification of machines' operational failure, SMPO said. Along with accumulation of operating data, the role of SMBs will be extended from production management to optimization of production and manufacturing equipment, with advanced functions such as quality monitoring, diagnosis and prediction of operating conditions for equipment, optimal scheduling for production to be added, SMPO noted.As specific functions on demand vary from industry to industry, modules of industry-specific functions will be overlaid on those of common functions for SMBs, SMPO indicated.Initial development of SMBs involved 32 companies, research organizations and universities, and respective SMB software solutions are independent of one another and lack mutual compatibility, according to Intelligent Machinery Technology Center (IMTC) under government-sponsored Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).IMTC said SMB users are prone to relying too much on scenarios set by individual developers, and it will work to standardize format interfaces to enable different developers' SMB software solutions to smoothly operate in common environments.Based on the standardization, a smart machinery cloud computing platform was unveiled in 2019 to facilitate development of cloud-based SMB software solutions and allow users of standardized SMBs to download chosen solutions on subscription or rental basis, SMPO said. Developers of machines can pre-install such solutions on their products and system integration service providers can adopt such solutions to enhance total solutions.The platform will be tested for reliability and information security in first-half 2020 and come into trial operation in the second half, with commercial operation expected to begin in 2021.So far, over 150 manufacturers have installed SMBs on 3,285 machines, SMPO indicated, adding that the target number of SMB-equipped machines for 2022 is 9,000.A smart machine boxPhoto: ITRI

The coronavirus epidemic has just started to show signs of easing in China, but the Chinese government can hardly wait to reboot its semiconductor industry. Its National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, aka Big Fund - set up to raise China's chip self-sufficiency - is kicking off its second-phase program at the end of March. The memory sector was still quite optimistic about demand this year when the outbreak was mostly confined to China and other parts of Asia earlier this year. But as it has developed into a pandemic, memory distributors are bracing for a disappointing second half of 2020. The pandemic's impacts are widespreading, casting a shadow even over the anticipated launch of Apple's 5G iPhones later this year. But that has not prevented the supply chain from vying for orders from Apple.China Big Fund in 2nd phase to fuel chip industry: China's National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund (Big Fund) is about to kick off its second-phase capital support for the local chip industry, according to industry sources.Memory distributors uncertain about demand: Memory distributors have become more uncertain about demand due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic, and may adjust downward their quotes if demand turns out to be disappointing in the second half of 2020, according to industry sources.BOE, GIS reportedly jointly developing touch modules for iPhone: BOE Technology reportedly has teamed up with touch panel maker General Interface Solution (GIS) to develop an out-cell touch module looking to grab orders from Apple for one of its 5G iPhone devices slated for launch in the second half of 2020, according to sources from the supply chain makers.

DDTMAP Technology, a Taiwan-based developer of applications of AR, VR and human-machine interaction technologies, will launch WebAR web-based AR platform for simulating spatial placements of furniture to help consumers choose items that can match their home decor, according to company founder and CEO Chen Si-chia.WebAR, set to be launched April 1, features integration of furniture catalogs, reality fitting of chosen items, and online ordering and payments, Chen said.The platform saves users from the hassles of having to visit physical furniture stores and measure dimensions of desired furniture pieces, and the items purchased from physical stores may turn out to be wrong choice after they are delivered, Chen indicated, adding that WebAR is developed to solve such problems.AR-enabled apps have been developed by others, such as IKEA, to serve similar purposes, but the downloading of large volumes of furniture catalogs every time an app opens is usually a long wait for users, Chen said, adding that is why DDTMAP has developed a web-based platform.WebAR can also help interior decoration designers quickly change furniture pieces, saving at least 80% of time usually spent on communication with clients, Chen indicated. WebAR can also help furniture vendors manage and analyze business operations, and help furniture stores reduce costs by minimizing exhibition space and inventory, Chen noted.Specifically for WebAR, DDTMAP has talked with target partners including furniture stores, interior decoration designers and project undertakers, real estate developers, with many of them willing for cooperation, Chen said.Viewing that painting and artwork are important elements of interior decoration, DDTMAP plans to incorporate items of painting and artwork into WebAR, Chen said. DDTMAP has cooperated with National Taiwan University of Arts to provide a platform for the university's teachers and students to sell self-made work at self-set prices, Chen noted. DDTMAP will tap the markets in Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia, Chen noted, adding WebAR is equipped with a function of translating basic information of the vendors' furniture pieces into English, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Filipino, Chen indicated.DDTMAP Technology founder and CEO Chen Si-chiaPhoto: Vincent Mao, Digitimes, March 2020