A group of 10 startup teams from Taiwan will be showcasing their innovations at the 2019 TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco (TCD SF) running October 2-4, according to the National Development Council (NDC).The group will be led by NDC's Taiwan Startup Stadium (TSS), with the 10 members selected from a total of 65 registered startup firms based on their US market development capability, product matureness, and business negotiation ability. They cover a variety of segments including Internet of Vehicles (IoV), IoT, blokchain, AI and biomedicine.Among them, 3drens, a B2B software solution provider, will display its Vehicle Intelligence Platform, a data-driven IoT platform designed for commercial fleet owners to optimize operations with deep machine learning, data analysis and prediction services.Autopass will exhibit auto payment service solutions based on car license plate identification, which can help parking lots, gas stations and other driver-related services providers collect payments.Dapp Pocket will highlight a blockchain wallet as a secure and easy way to manage cryptocurrencies. With the pocket, users can access 2000+Dapp on their phones and find the best price to exchange diverse digital coins.InnovArt will demonstrate a solar-powered smart gadget, CarWink, which allows drivers to communicate with each other when on the road. The device comes with hands-free voice control allowing users to inform drivers behind you when there is an accident or other issues ahead.DT42 team has strong backgrounds in AI technology and embedded systems, with its expertise enabling next generation machine vision on edge devices for application to smart plants, smart cities and smart healthcare.Fox-tech will present temperature and humidity IoT sensing solutions to help manufacturers improve production and safety.There will be another 24 Taiwanese startups attending the TCD SF 2019, including those organized by Taiwan Tech Arena, Startup Terrace and the Institute for Information Industry (III).

The overall semiconductor market may be weak, but TSMC has seen strong demand for its 7nm manufacturing capacity, with orders, particularly those from Chinese clients, already extending to the first half of 2020, despite uncertainties arising from the US-China trade war. One of its major clients is Huawei, who is said to be releasing its Kirin 990 chip with an integrated 5G modem built using TSMC's 7nm FinFET Plus EUV process. While TSMC sits comfortably at the top of the foundry sector, the DRAM sector mostly sees a three-horse race between Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron Technology. And it is no surprise that a recent meeting reportedly between Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and executives from China's Tsinghua Unigroup - which is keen to develop its own DRAM prowess - has sparked some speculation.TSMC to see 7nm chip demand remain robust through 1H20: TSMC has enjoyed a pull-in of chip orders demanding advanced 7nm node manufacturing, with order visibility stretching through the first half of 2020, according to sources in Taiwan's IC design sector.Huawei to unveil 5G SoC built using 7nm EUV process: Huawei is to unveil its latest mobile processor, the Kirin 990, at a product event at IFA 2019 tradefair.Micron CEO visit to China sparks speculation: Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra has paid a visit to China to meet executives at Tsinghua Unigroup, raising speculation about potential cooperation between the two companies.

Taiwan-based PC brands Acer and Asustek are unveiling new products in Berlin, as IFA 2019 approaches in the German city. Asustek will be showcasing its ProArt series for CAD users, as well as AIoT applications. As the PC market has entered the traditional peak season, the company expects its third-quarter sales from the PC business to see a 20% sequential growth. For Acer, it has announced a range of new products at its own event in Berlin. Acer expects strong increase this year in notebook sales in Germany, one of the key markets for the vendor in Europe.Asustek unveils ProArt series innovations at IFA 2019: Asustek Computer will showcase results of its development of products for CAD and enterprise users as well as AIoT applications at IFA 2019 in Berlin from September 6-11.Acer positive about notebook sales in Germany: Acer expects its notebook sales in Germany to register a double-digit increase in 2019, thanks to enterprise users replacing their Windows 7 machines and growing demand from the gaming sector, according to notebook business manager of Acer Germany, Marcel Behm.

Taiwan-based Jobus platform plans to venture its bus matching services to Southeast Asia before finally developing into an autonomous car ride-hailing platform, according to the firm's chief operation officer YD Chang.Since its inception two years ago, Jobus has been expanding its user base through cooperating with 15 local passenger bus companies, Chang said, adding that his company hopes to integrate diverse routes and ticketing data and sell the bus companies' surplus tickets to international tourists through the platform.Chang said that Jobus will also foray into Southeast Asia, seeking to provide more accurate matching services by harnessing passenger bus transportation capacities of different countries in the region and even developing car ride-hailing services there.Chang revealed that Jobus is cooperating with Taiwan-based Turing Drive, a provider of autonomous shuttle solutions, to develop an app-based platform to connect passengers with operators of autonomous buses or cars as driverless vehicles will become a new transportation choice in future urban mobility.

To reinforce application of AI to the fashion industry, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed the world's first FashionAI Dataset in collaboration with e-commerce giant Alibaba to better address the needs of fashion retailers and consumers, according to Calvin Wong, a professor at PolyU's Institute of Textiles and Clothing.At a recent Taiwan-Hong Kong economic cooperation forum in Taipei, Wong said that through integrating fashion knowledge and machine learning formulation, the Dataset will enable machines to better understand fashion, ushering in a new horizon to the fashion retail industry through the application of AI.Dataset can solve two fundamental problems of deep learning algorithms: detection of apparel key points and recognition of apparel attributes. Key points to be detected include neckline, cuff and waistline; and attributes to be recognized cover sleeve length, collar type and skirt style. Both build the foundation for machine learning in understanding fashion images, according to Wong.He said Dataset can help improve the accuracy of online fashion image searching, create innovative buying experience and facilitate customization of online shopping platforms.E-commerce is now a major market for the fashion industry with many fashion brands scoring over 50% of revenues from online sales, Wang said, adding that some cosmetics brands have applied AI-based facial recognition technology to offer virtualized trial makeup services.Wong indicated that e-commerce operators, besides harnessing shopping habits and preferences, are also seeking to better identify customers' body shapes and sizes to enhance promotions and reduce return rates for sold apparels.To meet the demand, Wong disclosed, PolyU has developed an intelligent 3D human modeling system by integrating cutting-edge computer graphics and vision technology. The system allows a customized model in arbitrary dynamic poses to be created automatically within 5-10 seconds, able to detect body parts in tight fitting clothing from front-view and side-view 2D images and then construct them into 3D models.

Chinese IT firms have been keen on reducing reliance on US supplies in the wake of the US-China trade war. Taiwan's IC design service providers used to land orders from China-based clients for mainly mining processors and high-performance computing chips, but have seen more of the customers engaged in the development of CPUs, GPUs and AI processors this year. Some RF component specialists in Taiwan have also seen increases in orders from China. And despite the escalating US-China trade tensions, DRAM chipmaker Nanya Technology has become more optimistic about its shipments for third-quate 2019 than its previous forecast.Orders for China homegrown processors rising: Orders for custom-designed processors have been rising from China in 2019, according to industry sources in Taiwan.Taiwan RF component suppliers see orders ramp up from China: Taiwan-based RF component specialists including RichWave Technology, Rafael Microelectronics and AMIC Communication (AMICCOM), have seen a ramp-up in orders from China in 2019, according to industry sources.Nanya raises bit shipment forecast for 3Q19: DRAM chipmaker Nanya Technology has revised upward its bit shipment guidance for the third quarter of 2019 to over 25% growth sequentially from the mid-teen percentage increase estimated previously.

US-based clinical research organization (CRO) Veristat has set up operations in Taipei, seeking to leverage Taiwan's ICT talent to integrate smart medical resources in the US and Taiwan for better clinical applications, according to Alecia Barbee, executive vice president for the firm's US operations.Besides serving biopharmaceutical clients in North America, Europe and Asia, Veristat has established its first Asia branch in Taiwan to offer clinical trial, biostatistics and programing services for local clients, Barbee said.Barbee said over the past two and a half years, a total of 604 biotech startups have been established in the US, indicating the increasingly close integration of technology and medicine, which will usher in brand-new biomedical innovations to promote human health.Philip Ho, director of the firm's Asia Pacific operations, said that Taiwan's biomedical industry has experienced more than 20 years of development, with annual production value estimated at US$2.44 billion. He said the technologies accumulated over the years and big data analysis will combine to spur a new wave of growth for the industry in Taiwan.HY Ou, Asia Pacific operations manager at Veristat, also noted that his company will move to boost new drug R&D efficiency and rare disease treatment efficacy by utilizing the statistical analysis system (SAS). He revealed the Taipei office is recruiting 20 SAS programmers and two clinical data managers to provide stable services to clients in Taiwan.

Taiwanese passive component suppliers have seen inventory approach healthy levels after two to three quarters of correction. But while their third-quarter shipments are expected to be robust, they remain cautious about the last quarter of the year. In the handset market, Asustek Computer might have been over-cautious about sales of its new gaming smartphone. Asustek reportedly has seen tight supply of its ROG Phone II, as it had failed to place sufficient orders with its handset OEM partner prior to launch.Passive component demand picking up: Demand for MLCCs, chip resistors, as well as other passive components, has started picking up substantially, according to industry sources in Taiwan.Asustek to account for over 50% of global gaming smartphone shipments in 2019: Asustek is expected to ship over 400,000 units of its ROG Phone II in 2019, accounting for over 50% of the global gaming smartphone shipments in the year, according to industry sources.

Taiwan startup Turing Chain is developing a blockchain solution designed to simplify the validation process for certificates and prevent certificates from being faked, according to the firm's chief technology officer TT Lee.Lee said that the Turing Certification solution will take five steps to complete the validation process, starting with link to the blockchain and then getting a credential for the given certificate. The accuracy of the credential holder's data is then verified, followed by certificate validation. The last step is to confirm the authenticity and validity of the certificate from the issuing party.Lee said it will require the support of issuing parties such as colleges and hospitals as well as the validating parties including human resources and headhunting firms to complete the five steps.Lee disclosed that her company's certification solution will be available in the form of an app to be online in October. Users of the app can quickly complete qualification certification and verification process with Turing Chain's cooperative partners.Turing Chain CTO TT LeePhoto: Michael Lee, Digitimes, September 2019

The saturated notebook market has long been in lack of wow factors to stimulate demand. Now Intel and Microsoft are reportedly teaming up again to develop standards for dual-screen notebooks in a bid to rejuvenate the notebook market. But until then, the notebook market will remain sluggish. Worse still, notebooks are among goods imported from China that the US will impose extra tariffs starting December, sending the supply chain worrying.Wintel developing standards for dual-screen notebooks, paving way for foldable-screen models: Intel and Microsoft have recently started establishing standards for dual-screen notebooks and are looking to extend the concept to cover foldable-screen notebooks, according to sources from the notebook upstream supply chain.Apple supply chain makers begin to worry as new products set to launch: While Apple is set to release new iPhones and new Apple Watch on September 10, makers in Apple's supply chains have begun to worry that end-market demand in the holiday shopping season may be weak, affecting their orders in the coming year, according to industry watchers.