European startups have been keen on developing diverse smart tech solutions for healthcare, clinical surgery, interactive care and digital rehabilitation, and many have unveiled their latest R&D results at CES 2020 seeking to explore more application opportunities.Among them, Holland-based I-Med Technology has launched a lightweight head-mounted digital surgical loupe with 3D Full-HD image quality, fitted with a powerful LED lamp able to display preoperative information on screen and make 3D recordings of the complete picture that the surgeon sees through the microscope.The company is moving to promote the new device to hospitals and clinical units that it has cooperated in the past.As smart health concept is rapidly gaining popularity among Europeans, another Dutch startup Airbliss+ has debuted a smart anti-air pollution mask. The device features a specific fan system allowing users to have seamless breathing experience with controlled heat and humidity levels, even during moderate exercise such as cycling. Additional features include a secure seal system and adjustable harness to ensure a secure fit.The firm's CEO Adel Arigue said that his company will raise funds via crowdfunding to finance production and marketing of the smart mask.I-Med's digital surgical loupeSmart anti-air pollution mask by Airbliss+Photo: Mark Tsai, Digitimes, January 2020

Five startups recently exhibited their innovative products and solutions at the Central Taiwan Accelerator, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum held by the administration of Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP).Free Bonics Taiwan, a developer of powered exoskeletons and bionic technology, will cooperate with Taiwan-based Tiger Accelerator and Netherlands-based rehabilitation center De Hoogstraat Revalidatie to propose a smart exoskeleton project to apply for subsidization from the Netherlands government.CatchGene introduced an in-house-developed solution of purifying rare cfDNA (circulating cell free DNA) or cfRNA from liquid biopsy to help diagnose and trace cancers.CloudMed showcased iCARE, an 8-in-one physiological measurement device to integrate cloud computing-based analysis of health data and dietary/exercise recommendations for personalized health management.Nestech presented smart door locks and access control systems for use in smart city solutions, hotels and offices through combining edge computing with cloud computing.A research team from China Medical University unveiled biodegradable internal fixation materials for application to bone fractures, with such materials able to be used to make internal fixation in desired shapes via 3D printing to match bone fractures.CTSP administration in 2018 set up AI Robotics Hub in the science park, with the accelerator incubating 16 startup teams, and invited 11 Taiwan-based accelerators and incubation centers to form Central Taiwan Accelerator Alliance in October 2019.Startups showcase products and solutions at a CTSP forumPhoto: CTSP administration

Taiwanese startups have shown significant progresses in technologies, presentations, and development directions, judging from their showings at CES 2020, according to deputy science and technology minister Hsu Yu-chin.Hsu said the startups now know much better how to develop their innovations closely in line with market needs, and they are also showing high flexibility.A total of 82 Taiwanese startups, selected by US-based Consumer Technology Association and Silicon Valley-based venture capital firms, are presenting their products at Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) at CES 2020, under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) sponsorships.This is the third year that a TTA delegation has attended CES.At the CES Eureka Park, Hsu has also talked with minister of investment Graham Stuart for UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of International Trade). Stuart indicated that he is interested in Taiwan's development of smart cities and hopes for communications with Taiwan-based startups at Smart City Summit & Expo 2020 in Taipei in March. Hus also communicated with vice CEO Eiko Okuya for Japan External Trade Organization and vice director of business Bertrand Velon for the French government.MOST will bring Taiwan-based startup businesses to international market through selecting countries or areas as target overseas markets based on their choices and goals of business development, Hsu indicated.Deputy MOST minister Hsu Yu-chinPhoto: Mark Tsai, Digitimes, January 2020

Recovery in the memory market has been expected to send prices rising, but the extent of increase in the NAND flash segment may be bigger than expected in the short term after a brief fire that broke out at a Kioxia fab earlier this week may constrain supply. The global 5G chip market is also bracing for tight supply due to insufficient 7nm foundry support. The tight supply will keep 5G SoC prices at high levels, with MediaTek likely to see gross margin rise.Kioxia fab fire may send NAND flash prices soaring: A brief fire that broke out at Kioxia's Yokkaichi plant in Japan on January 7 may send NAND flash prices surging, according to industry observers.Global 5G mobile chip supply remains constrained: The global supply of 5G mobile chips remains constrained, due to tight 7nm manufacturing process capacities at foundries, according to industry sources.MediaTek to see gross margin rise: MediaTek is expected to see its gross margin improve further in the first quarter of 2020, thanks to the rollouts of its new chip solutions coupled with tight foundry capacities, according to industry sources.

Taiwan startups are demonstrating at CES 2020 a variety of smart tech solutions incorporating fingerprint recognition, blockchain and data visualization technologies to enhance online retailing security, protect personal medical records and facilitate smart mobility services.At CES' Taiwan Tech Arena pavilion, KeyXentic, dedicated to mobile and data security services, sports its biometric identification, multi-factor authentication and public key infrastructure (PKI) tech solutions that can boost online payment security, avoiding possible risks associated with the past input of passwords.AuthenTrend Technology's electronic wallet solution can integrate fingerprint recognition and EAL5 +SE (secure element) technologies to lower the chance of fraudulent use of wallets. The company is striving to bring fingerprint-enabled security authenticators from personal to business, from centralization to decentralization, and from IT to IoT to meet the trend of biometric, password-free authentication.SecuX Technology's encrypted point-to-point payment system allows the linkage between the retail end and the POS terminal system or enables connections between kiosk machines and NFC sensors via an embedded module to boost trading security.International Trust Machines's blockchain-enabled IC solution features a cryptographic security algorithm to achieve high security, privacy protection and low-cost IoT uplinks, while KryptoGo leverages blockchain search engine to increase the usability and readability of digital data.3drens offers vehicle fleet dispatch optimization system to help fleet operators reduce operating costs, increase fleet dispatch efficiency and introduce innovative mobility services. OmniEyes also has released an online virtual assistant system to enhance fleet management.

Of the 82 startups organized by Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) to attend Eureka of CES 2020, 13 have won CES 2020 Innovation Awards, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) that supports the TTA delegation.The winners include LuluPet's pet health management system using AI-based analysis of animal excretion conditions collected by sensors to understand pets' daily intake of nutrients and water.AgriTalk's smart agricultural solution uses IoT sensors to collect data on air quality, temperature and humidity and dryness of soil for analysis of soil productivity.The others include: AuthenTrend Technology's fingerprint-based security authentication solutions; Taiwan User-Friendly Sensor and Tech's IoT-based portable device providing rapid food allergen test results; ible Technology's wearable air purifiers; Rice Ear's personal air purifier for cleaning air in users' immediate surrounding of up to 16 square meters; Brillant Optronics's smart window film that can be laminated onto existing window glass and adjusted in transparency, tint, privacy protection and image display via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.In smart transportation, the winners include Mindtronic's AI-based smart solutions for automotive application, the company has obtained over 100 patents around the world; Jarvish's smart safety helmets; and Nestech's smart access control solutions.Happy Island's bone-conduction music shells (MP3) for use by swimmers, YunYun Tech's smart baby camera via integrating AI with vision technology for use to detect risky conditions for babies' safety, and Ganzin Technology's eye tracking solutions that can be integrated into AR/VR modules, have also won awards.Taiwanese startups that have won CES 2020 Innovation AwardsPhoto: MOST

CES 2020 has started with a bang. Big companies - such as Intel, AMD, and Samsung - and startups alike are showcasing their latest products and innivations at the annual show in Las Vegas. For the display sector, mini and micro LED technologies are catching attention, with Samsung demonstrating its modular micro LED display modules, The Wall, that can be stacked up to cover an entire wall. Taiwan's ITRI is also showcasing a 16.7-inch modularized micro LED display that it claims is the world's first model directly mass transferring micro LED chips onto PCB backplanes - a process that can reduce production costs. Digitimes Research believes, as shown its latest Special Report on mini/micro LED outlook, technological improvements are expected to broaden micro LED's adoption in display modules which can be mosaicked into large screens of various sizes starting 2024. Device vendors have also unveiled their mini LED-backlit monitors for gaming. And with Intel, AMD and Nvidia releasing their next-generation processors, PC demand is expected to pick up in the third quarter of 2020. Meanwhile, OmniVision reportedly will raise th eprices for high-resolution CMOS image sensors due to tight supply.ITRI showcasing modularized micro LED display at CES 2020: Taiwan-based Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is exhibiting at CES 2020 a 16.7-inch modularized micro LED display that it claims is the world's first model directly mass transferring micro LED chips onto PCB backplanes without using temporary backplanes.Micro LED to be widely used in large displays starting 2024: Micro LED technology is limited to applications in high-end large-size commercial displays and deluxe home theater systems currently due to high production cost, but technological improvements are expected to broaden its adoption in display modules which can be mosaicked into large screens of various sizes starting 2024, Digitimes Research's newly published Special Report on the outlook of mini and micro LED.Taiwan companies showcasing mini LED-backlit products at CES 2020: Asustek Computer and Acer are exhibiting 32-inch 4K mini LED-backlit gaming LCD monitors featuring 1,152 local diming zones and maximum luminance of 1,400nits at CES 2020.New-gen PC processors to stimulate demand starting 3Q20: With Intel, AMD and Nvidia set to ship their new-generation processors later this year, industry sources are generally optimistic about PC sales picking up starting the third quarter.OmniVision to raise CIS prices to reflect tight supply: OmniVision will revise upward by as much as 20% its quotes for high-resolution CMOS image sensors for use in consumer devices due to tight supply, according to industry sources.

Taiwan startups are showcasing a variety of cross-domain smart tech solutions integrating 5G telecom infrastructure, diverse sensor-based IoT equipment, blockchain and AR/VR/MR applications at CES 2020, providing new opportunities for digital transformations at various industries.Among the exhibitors at the Taiwan Tech Arena at the CES Eureka Park, AgriTalk Tech led by professors from Taiwan's National Chiao Tung University offers smart agriculture AI solutions for farmers. Its all-in-one sensors monitor vital farm conditions such as nutrient levels, soil moisture, power supply and irrigation to secure normal operations of either large farms or small backyard gardens.Ganzin Technology showcases its Aurora eye tracker module and Luna eye tracker module that can be applied to VR/AR/smart glasses to make the devices perform better in serving users' needs, with the modules mainly comprising SoCs and API (application programming interfaces). The company also supplies relevant software development kits for customers.Nestech, specializing in access control solutions, has unveiled a mobile front desk management system for hospitality industry and property management that can be done via a mobile phone or a tablet.Other smart solutions on display include smart helmets from Jarvish, automated fire-fighting robots from SunJet Robotics, an IoT system for detecting invisible blood from RedEye Biomedical and AI baby cameras from Yun Yun.AgriTalk's system on display at CESPhoto: Mark Tsai, Digitimes, January 2020

Micro LED technology is limited to applications in high-end large-size commercial displays and deluxe home theater systems currently due to high production cost, but technological improvements are expected to broaden its adoption in display modules which can be mosaicked into large screens of various sizes starting 2024, Digitimes Research's newly published Special Report on the outlook of mini and micro LED.While Sony and Samsung Electronics have unveiled micro LED-equivalent display modules, their prices are over US$50,000 per square meter, far exceeding US$500-1,500 per square meter for 75-inch 4K LCD TVs and US$3,000-6,000 per square meter for 77-inch OLED TVs, Digitimes Research indicates in its Special Report, "Mini/micro LED: Challenges and opportunities in the display industry." As sizes of glass substrates are limited for production lines, it is difficult to produce LCD or OLED TV panels of over 120 inches. In comparison, micro LED display modules can be mosaicked into 110-, 220-, 440-, 790-inch or even larger displays and will therefore have market niche in commercial displays of over 100 inches. But, the problem is how to reduce production cost for micro LED panels.A new manufacturing process via embedding CMOS circuits in micro LED chips seems to be able to hike yield rates and thereby decrease production cost for micro LED panels. The process reduces complexity of mass transfer of micro LED chips onto backplanes to facilitate wafer-level production and testing. In addition, backplanes are not limited to TFT-LCD glass substrates and can be made of glass, metals or flexible materials.

Huawei managed to ship 240 million smartphones in 2019, but the US trade ban remains a concern, with the Chinese vendor likely to cut its smartphone shipment goal for 2020. The memory market has started recovering, with NAND flash suppliers cautiously expanding production capacity. But competition is expected to heat up in 2021 when their new NAND flash capacities are ready. For Taiwan's CCL suppliers, the first quarter of 2020 will be a strong one, thanks to robust demand from the 5G sector.Huawei likely to lower smartphone shipment goal for 2020: Huawei is conservative about the outlook for its smartphone shipments in 2020 and is likely to set its shipment goal for the year 30 million units below the amount it shipped in 2019, according to industry watchers, citing internal information from the top Chinese handset vendor.Samsung, Kioxia gearing up for capacity expansions: Major NAND flash makers including Samsung and Kioxia (formerly Toshiba Memory) have had their capacity expansion projects proceed at a gradual pace, with new capacities set to come online beginning later in 2020, according to industry sources.Taiwan CCL makers to see strong 1Q20 on 5G commercialization: Taiwan-based CCL makers are expected to see stronger-than-expected shipment momentum in the fourth-quarter 2019 persist into the first quarter of 2020 thanks to robust demand for their high-frequency, high-speed products, though both quarters are traditionally off seasons, according to industry sources.