While the cloud offers a lot of benefits for businesses, it also presents new security challenges. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and frequent, businesses must be proactive in protecting their digital assets.Cloud threat modeling is a strategic approach that helps businesses identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks within their cloud environments. By simulating real-world attack scenarios, you can gain a deeper understanding of your vulnerabilities and develop targeted security measures. In this article, let's explore everything you need to know about the importance of cloud threat modeling.Cloud threat modeling: an introductionCloud threat modeling is an approach to identifying and evaluating potential security threats to cloud-based systems. It involves analyzing cloud architecture, applications, and data flows to identify vulnerabilities and predict how attackers might exploit them.By identifying these potential threats, you can develop strategies to mitigate them. This might involve implementing stronger security measures, training your team, or updating your software. Remember that threat modeling isn't a one-time event. It's an ongoing process that should be integrated into your cloud system's lifecycle.Why cloud threat modeling is critical for business securityProvides a proactive defenseInstead of waiting for a security breach to happen, cloud threat modeling will help you anticipate potential risks. By identifying vulnerabilities early on, you can implement preventative measures to protect your systems. This stance can significantly reduce the likelihood of data breaches, financial losses, and potential damage to your reputation.Helps enhance your understanding of the cloud environmentThe cloud can be a complex environment. Threat modeling provides a clear picture of this infrastructure, helping you to understand how different parts work together and where vulnerabilities might exist. This knowledge is crucial for designing effective security controls that protect the entire cloud ecosystem.Helps improve incident responseIf a security incident occurs, a well-developed threat model can be a valuable asset. It provides a roadmap for incident response teams, helping them quickly identify the root cause of the problem and take appropriate actions to contain and resolve the threat. This can minimize the impact of the incident and reduce downtime.Helps in compliance and regulatory requirementsMany industries are subject to strict data protection and cybersecurity regulations. Cloud threat modeling demonstrates a commitment to responsible security practices, helping you meet compliance requirements and avoid costly penalties. By proactively addressing risks, you can build trust with customers, partners, and regulators.It is cost-efficientDealing with the results of a security breach can be expensive. Cloud threat modeling helps prevent such incidents by identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. This approach can save you money in the long run and allow you to allocate resources more effectively.Key components of cloud threat modelingAsset identification: Instead of simply listing assets, consider the value and sensitivity of each asset. Prioritize protection efforts based on the potential impact of a breach. For example, customer data might be more critical than internal documentation.Threat identification: Once assets have been identified, the next step is to identify potential threats. Go beyond common threats. Stay updated on emerging threats and attack techniques specific to your industry and cloud provider. Engage with security communities and intelligence sources to gain insights.Vulnerability assessment: Don't just list vulnerabilities. Understand the real-world impact of each vulnerability. Consider factors like the likelihood of exploitation, the severity of potential consequences, and the availability of patches or workarounds.Attack surface analysis: Instead of a static analysis, visualize potential attack paths. This helps stakeholders understand how attackers might exploit vulnerabilities to achieve their objectives. Use tools or techniques like threat modeling diagrams to make these paths more tangible.Mitigation strategies: Once threats, vulnerabilities, and attack surfaces have been identified, you must develop strategies to mitigate these risks. Involve a variety of stakeholders, including security experts, developers, and business leaders, in the mitigation planning process. Leverage their diverse perspectives to develop effective and practical security measures.Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Urbanization brings with it massive demand for parking spaces. The construction of smart parking systems then becomes an essential strategy for solving traffic problems and enhancing habitability. Taiwan International Development CO. (TIDC), ASUS MAAS, and the ASUS IoT business unit have formed a three-way partnership to develop the first all-in-one smart charger in Taiwan that combines charging, parking, and payment functions to satisfy the smart parking requirements of modern cities.ASUS IoT is committed to improving the quality of life in smart cities by using data and digital technologies as well as the in-depth integration of AI technologies, software, and hardware to implement smarter and more efficient city management solutions. AI technology can offer accurate prediction and analysis for improved system speed and accuracy. Software-hardware integration improves system stability and flexibility. More accurate license-plate recognition for smart parking systems reduces congestion, improves the utilization of parking resources, boosts the city's operating efficiency, and raises resident satisfaction. A superior living environment can be created by realizing the vision for smart and efficient city management.TIDC President Shi-chen Chen noted that chargers and parking systems face a plethora of challenges from smart city and net-zero carbon emission trends. The popularization of electric vehicles has created market demand for the installation of more charging facilities. These must be integrated with existing car parks and a reasonable billing mechanism set up. Parking management has already transitioned from tracking total volume to individual parking spaces. Smart functions such as license plate and vehicle model recognition must also be integrated into the system. In response, TIDC, ASUS MAAS, and ASUS IoT joined forces to help local governments throughout Taiwan develop their smart parking systems.Under the current collaboration model, TIDC is responsible for site management and customer service as well as collecting feedback on real-world applications and market demand. ASUS is the technology provider responsible for hardware such as smart bollards and chargers, and low-level software technologies – includes APIs and SDKs. ASUS MAAS plays the role of system integrator, integrating ASUS software and hardware to create full smart parking systems. According to ASUS MAAS, the model not only allowed the three vendors to respond rapidly to market requirements using their respective strengths but also engage in ongoing innovation on total smart solutions for the car park market.The ASUS MAAS all-in-one smart charger is based on the company's own X-Spotter system, an advanced smart parking system that includes several innovative features. The high-mount license-plate-recognition system can recognize the license plates of up to eight parking spaces at the same time and offers real-time parking space detection. The system also supports smart parking management and multiple payment methods for paperless parking. Multiple security functions such as intrusion detection have applications in residential and commercial scenarios. Integration with city-grade AI and EV energy-management platforms allows for energy analysis and management. The unobtrusive, low-interference design helps to maintain the aesthetics of the streetscape. The X-Spotter system will be upgraded in the future to support safety functions such as fire prevention, smoke detection, and anti-electricity theft to enhance the overall parking experience and management efficiency.The smart parking features of X-Spotter are powered by the PE1000-series edge AI system, an AIoT solution provided by ASUS IoT. ASUS AIoT Senior Business Development Manager Chih-wen Shih said that the business unit provides clients with one-stop smart city solutions. Product lines encompass the ARM architecture, NVIDIA JETSON series, as well as Intel and Windows solutions.The PE1000 series high-performance edge AI computer used in the X-Spotter incorporates the NVIDIA Jetson platform to support everything from Nano to Orin Nano and AGX Orin for different applications. Key features of the PE1000 series include fanless design, diversified I/O interfaces, WiFi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and optional 4G/5G communication modules for more flexibility on connections. The PE1000 series also supports a wide range of power inputs and operating temperatures to cater to different environmental conditions. ASUS Expansion Module (AEM) broadens its range of applications even more.TIDC has already rolled out smart car parks and electric vehicle charging facilities in a number of Taiwanese cities with the help of ASUS and ASUS MAAS. Taichung Civic Park Underground Parking Lot is planning to install 22 11kW slow chargers and four 120kW fast chargers. Tainan has installed 39 charging facilities already while Pingtung is planning to install 181 11kW slow chargers and four fast chargers. Fugang Geopark in Taitung has built and commissioned three charging facilities already, while the chargers installed at Wanfang Hospital in Taipei are seeing a high rate of use too.As for its future plans, TIDC indicated that the global electric vehicle industry is just taking off. A public behavioral model for charging, parking, and payments has not yet been established and legislation is still being drafted. Parking service systems must therefore make rolling adjustments to their architecture and functionality to keep pace with market requirements. The high performance and expandability of the PE1000 edge AI system provided by ASUS IoT combined with the flexible services of ASUS MAAS will help TIDC respond quickly to market changes and supply smart parking systems that deliver both management efficiency and a quality user experience.Taiwan International Development CO. (TIDC), ASUS MAAS, and the ASUS IoT business unit have formed a three-way partnership to develop the first all-in-one smart charger in Taiwan that combines charging, parking, and payment functions to satisfy the smart parking requirements of modern cities.

Asia's best solutions partner, EDOM Technology (TWSE: 3048), is partnering with Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in secure, intelligent wireless technology for a more connected world, to showcase a series of innovative wireless connection technologies and solutions at electronica India 2024, including Bluetooth, Matter, Wi-Fi, and Wi-SUN. The exhibition lasts for three days (September 11-13), visit us at Booth F81, Hall 10, India Expo Mart (IEML), to learn more about our latest solutions in smart cities, smart homes, and industrial IoT.EDOM Technology and Silicon Labs have been collaborating for more than over 2 decades, jointly providing high-performance, low-power, and secure wireless connection solutions to countless clients. With the governmental policy support and extensive infrastructure investment, India is promoting large-scale infrastructure upgrades, which are supported by wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and Wi-SUN. In addition, Bluetooth technology has also shown a strong growth trend in India's consumer electronics and Internet of Things device markets, becoming the core connection technology for these devices. The rise of the Matter protocol is expected to bring the fragmented smart home market into alignment, achieve better interoperability between devices, and thereby improve user experience.This year, in order to promote wireless connection technology, EDOM Technology joins hands with Silicon Labs to participate in Electronica India to showcase multi-protocol solutions. These solutions cover fields such as smart homes, smart meters, smart cities, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), providing wireless connections that meet client needs and help build a more convenient and connected future.The exhibition will showcase cutting-edge advancements in Bluetooth, Matter, Wi-Fi, and Wi-SUN technologies, offering visitors a chance to explore innovations across the IoT landscape. Key highlights include Bluetooth integration and optimization for various devices, with features like Bluetooth Mesh OTA firmware updates, remote provisioning, and Bluetooth LE PAwR, supporting large-scale, low-power bi-directional networks for industrial and commercial applications. Comprehensive Matter solutions will also be presented, including Matter over Thread and Matter over Wi-Fi. Additionally, Wi-Fi's low power consumption in battery-powered IoT devices, such as smart locks and home automation systems, ensures long battery life even during secure cloud connectivity and OTA updates, making it ideal for always-connected environments. Wi-SUN will further impress with its long-range, low-cost communication, providing real-time insights and enhanced network capacity for large-scale IoT deployments.electronica India provides visitors with a unique opportunity to gain insight into our latest breakthroughs in smart cities, smart homes, and industrial IoT. We look forward to sharing these technologies with you and exploring cooperation opportunities to jointly promote innovation in the wireless connectivity industry. For more details or to arrange a meeting, please visit Booth No. F81, Hall 10, India Expo Mart (IEML) and contact us: sales@edomtech.com.EDOM Technology joins Silicon Labs in Electronica India 2024 to promote innovative wireless connectivity technologies. Credit: EDOM Technology

In a world where quality standards are crucial to success, NewPower Worldwide is making an important move by joining the ANSI/ASQ Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) 69 and 176. This decision places NewPower alongside respected organizations like CATERPILLAR, CISCO, INTEL, BOEING, LOCKHEED MARTIN, MICRON TECHNOLOGY, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, and GOOGLE. By becoming a member of this select group, NewPower seeks to actively contribute to the development and refinement of international quality standards, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of the industry and keep pace with technological advancements.As part of its responsibilities, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) oversees U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), which develop and transmit U.S. consensus positions on ISO standards. U.S. TAGs play a critical role in the approval, revision, and withdrawal of these standards while also selecting delegates to represent the U.S. at ISO meetings.NewPower's Commitment to Excellence and InnovationAs a member of TAG 69, which focuses on Applications of Statistical Methods, and TAG 176, dedicated to Quality Management and Quality Assurance standards, NewPower is positioned to influence the standards that govern global quality practices. This involvement reflects NewPower's dedication to pioneering quality initiatives that align with the company's vision of excellence and innovation.Pioneering New Standards: ISO 10009-2024NewPower's quality leadership was also engaged in the development and release of the ISO 10009 - 2024 standard, which serves as a companion to ISO 9001 and ISO 10017. This new standard provides quality practitioners with essential tools for structured problem-solving, encouraging their application in various contexts.By leveraging the guidance offered by the ISO 10009 - 2024 standard, organizations can achieve tangible benefits, including reduced complaints, minimized waste, faster turnaround times, improved responsiveness, and enhanced regulatory compliance. This standard serves as a valuable resource for quality practitioners, helping them enhance their quality management systems and overall effectiveness.The Future of Quality LeadershipNewPower's membership in ANSI/ASQ TAGs 69 and 176 marks a pivotal point in the company's journey toward setting a benchmark for quality leadership in the industry. By actively contributing to the development of international standards, NewPower is poised to influence the future of quality management practices. This strategic move enhances NewPower's capabilities and affirms its commitment to fostering a culture of quality that benefits both the company and the broader industry landscape.To learn more about NewPower's commitment to quality, visit www.newpowerww.com or email info@newpowerww.com.

Organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), Taiwan International Water Week (TIWW) 2024, opened grandly today at the TWTC Exhibition Hall 1. This year, TIWW 2024 features nearly 100 companies and almost 200 booths, highlighting the active involvement of both domestic and international exhibitors from seven countries, including France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, Japan etc. TIWW 2024 established as a premier platform for industry professionals to explore cutting-edge innovations, forge partnerships, and pursue business opportunities within the global water resources sector.Mr. Simon Wang, the President & CEO of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) emphasized the urgent global water crisis, noting that the accelerating effects of climate change have made effective water resource management crucial for sustainable development. This year's TIWW focuses on the themes of "Sustainable Water" and "Smart Water," with exhibitors showcasing groundbreaking technologies such as desalination, wastewater treatment, and recycled water systems, as well as smart equipment and intelligent water management systems, driving both innovation and sustainability within Taiwan's water industry.TIWW 2024 gathers the full spectrum of the water industry, presenting a wide array of solutions that encompass everything from essential components and equipment to fully integrated system planning. Notable exhibitors such as AVK, Winn & Coales (Denso), TA-DEE CHANG (TDC), KINGSHUENYI (KSE), Solteam Opto, EAGLESKY (ES), and KINGTRON are exhibiting cutting-edge products, including valves, pumps, meters, and other critical components. Leading water treatment companies like Veolia, LCY Chemical, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), NOVAX, NALCO, WINRESP, TUNG HSIN CHANG (THC), and YUAN CHANG are showcasing their advanced water treatment technologies. Additionally, SYTECS, GUNG DAI, TANKPAC, Swun Chyan, and Multiply Industrial are unveiling filtration and clean water solutions. Meanwhile, KFR, UTRUST, FENRI, and ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) are spotlighting smart water management systems powered by IoT technology.Beyond the extensive exhibits, TIWW offers a diverse array of activities throughout the event. Over the next three days, seventeen exhibitors will present their latest technologies and products. The Water Resources Agency (WRA) will host an international forum today (September 11) at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC), focusing on critical water issues. On September 12, the TIWW Tech Talk session will feature presentations from Veolia Water, the Water Resources Agency (WRA), and the British Standards Institution (BSI), covering topics such as wastewater biological treatment technology, carbon neutrality in hydraulic engineering, and international standards trends. These sessions will facilitate discussions on water resource development trends and promote collaboration among academia, research institutions, and industry professionals.To assist exhibitors in expanding their global presence, TAITRA has mobilized over 60 overseas offices to arrange one-on-one procurement meetings between international buyers and Taiwanese exhibitors. This initiative aims to foster cross-border collaborations and help Taiwanese companies tap into global business opportunities and international buyers find suitable partners and solutions.Taiwan International Water Week 2024 will be open to visitors from today until September 13 at TWTC Hall 1. For further information about the exhibition, please visit the official website at https://www.taiwanintlwaterweek.com/en-us/index.html.

Precise and complete physiological parameter monitoring plays a vital role in affecting the outcome of medical care and diagnosis.Medical institutions today use a variety of physiological monitoring devices. Without a way to integrate these devices, it is difficult to centrally manage patients' physiological data and this puts a burden on healthcare professionals.To address this, combining traditional physiological parameter monitoring and advanced ICT technologies, BROADSIMS introduces a 5G patient monitoring system featuring multiple physiological parameter sensors and connectivity with all kinds of medical applications and third-party devices. BROADSIMS' solution can significantly improve medical care efficiency and diagnostic accuracy.A synergy between traditional patient monitoring and ICT technologies improves medical care efficiency and diagnostic accuracyAccording to BROADSIMS founder and CEO Dr. Bruce Yu, a recent key trend for the healthcare industry is to develop smarter and higher-performance devices through the integration of ICT technologies with traditional medical devices as a way to improve medical care efficiency and optimize patient experience. In line with the trend, BROADSIMS applied its core strength and expanded physiological monitors commonly seen at hospitals into a smart platform that integrates a wide range of solutions from the healthcare ecosystem.BROADSIMS' 5G multi-parameter patient monitoring system checks basic physiological signals such as ECG, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and respiratory rate like traditional monitoring devices, and more importantly, it also supports all types of medical apps and third-party hardware through an open platform, allowing one device to monitor multiple physiological signals. Yu added that the system is like a smartphone for medical care. Not only does it have robust fundamental monitoring capabilities but it also features software and hardware expandability to accommodate the wide-ranging needs of different healthcare use scenarios. Healthcare professionals will greatly benefit from BROADSIMS' innovation, said Yu. They will be able to monitor multiple physiological parameters on a central platform and no longer need to operate several individual devices just to measure and track a patient's physical condition. Physicians have simultaneous access to a patient's complete physiological data, enabling them to make the right diagnosis.On top of healthcare efficiency improvement, BROADSIMS' 5G multi-parameter patient monitoring system also benefits physiological monitoring device manufacturers. Yu explained that single-feature medical device manufacturers face fierce competition. Even if their devices have been certified, they still struggle to overcome market entry barriers. By integrating with BROADSIMS' solution, the data collected by their devices can realize greater value, giving them another chance to penetrate medical institutions. Taiwan's positive startup environment supports BROADSIMS' global expansion while its open platform strategy expands application scenarios Yu revealed that BROADSIMS' ecosystem strategy has generated positive results. The company has actively engaged with ultrasound and video equipment makers for hardware integration on its open platform.It has also introduced a platform development kit (PDK) for use by medical research and academic institutions around the world to develop new applications. With close collaborations with global manufacturers as well as medical research and academic institutions, BROADSIMS continues to expand the scale and diversity of its ecosystem, hoping to start a positive cycle attracting more partners to get on board.BROADSIMS' 5G multi-parameter patient monitoring system was put to clinical use at NTU Hospital and Taichung Veterans General Hospital in 2021 and 2022. It officially passed medical device certification in May 2024 and entered the market.Close to half of the medical centers in Taiwan now use BROADSIMS' 5G multi-parameter patient monitoring system to optimize their healthcare efficiency. For example, Taichung Veterans General Hospital combines the system with mobile communication to continuously monitor the conditions of patients during transit and send the data back to the hospital.This significantly raises emergency care efficiency and patient safety. The solution also meets the needs of the home critical care program the Taiwan government is actively promoting. It enables the same quality of healthcare outside the hospital setting. Aside from Taiwan, BROADSIMS is applying for medical device certification in Southeast Asia and Europe while exerting efforts toward the US and other overseas markets.Looking back at the process of developing and bringing the system to market, Yu attributed the success to the BROADSIMS team's effort. He also considered Taiwan's startup environment and TTA's support critical in helping BROADSIMS secure a foothold in the market.Yu pointed out that with a multitude of accelerators and support programs, Taiwan's startup ecosystem is growing mature. As an important resource provider, TTA incubates startups by offering them opportunities to participate in international exhibitions and bridging them with mentors, media, prospective customers, and investors.Going forward, BROADSIMS will continue to expand its ecosystem and engage with more partners with its open platform strategy and PDK. Furthermore, it will actively strengthen its collaborations with medical institutions, hoping its robust technological capability coupled with the innovative application model will create a win-win situation for hospitals and patients.

SK Hynix announced today that it has developed PEB110 E1.S (PEB110), a high-performance solid-state drive (SSD) for data centers.With the advent of the AI era, customer demand for high-performance NAND solutions such as SSDs for data centers, as well as ultra-fast DRAM chips including high bandwidth memory (HBM), is growing. In line with this trend, the company has developed and introduced a new product with improved data processing speed and power efficiency by applying the fifth-generation (Gen5) PCIe1 specifications.SK Hynix expects to meet diverse customer needs with a more robust SSD portfolio following the successful mass production of PS10102 with the introduction of PEB110.The company is currently in the qualification process with a global data center customer and plans to begin mass production of the product in the second quarter of next year, pending qualification.PCle Gen5, applied to the new product, provides twice the bandwidth of the fourth generation (Gen4), enabling PEB110 to achieve data transfer rates of up to 32 gigatransfers per second (GT/s). This enables PEB110 to double the performance of the previous generation and improve power efficiency by more than 30%.SK Hynix has also applied the security protocol and data model technology, or SPDM, to PEB110, for the first time for its data-center SSDs to significantly enhance information security features.SPDM, a key security solution specialized in protecting server systems, offers secure authentication and monitoring of servers. With the recent increase in cyberattacks on data centers, the company expects that PEB110 with SPDM will meet the high information security needs of customers.The product will be released in three capacity versions—2 terabytes (TB), 4 TB, and 8 TB—and supports the OCP3 version 2.5 specifications for greater compatibility across global data centers."The new product builds on the company's best-in-class 238-high 4D NAND, boasting the most competitive standards in the industry in terms of cost, performance, and quality," said Ahn Hyun, Head of the N-S Committee at SK Hynix."Looking ahead, we are on track to proceed with customer qualification and volume production to solidify our position as the No. 1 global AI memory provider in the ever-growing SSD market for data centers," said Ahn.Credit: SK HynixAbout SK Hynix Inc.SK Hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top-tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM"), flash memory chips ("NAND flash"), and CMOS Image Sensors ("CIS") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxemburg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK Hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.

For most consumers today, checking online content to decide whether to visit a restaurant has become a usual practice. Therefore, one of the most challenging tasks for restaurant owners might not be serving delicious signature dishes, but rather putting effort and time into managing social media platforms to attract potential guests' attention and encourage them to walk through their restaurants' doors.As a third-generation family member in the restaurant business, Eric Fung deeply understands restaurant owners' pain points. Drawing on 15 years of experience in the tech industry in Silicon Valley and his entrepreneurial spirit, he founded Colega AI with partners, and leverages AI technology to provide solutions that help restaurant owners easily manage social media platforms and create promotional content. Starting with Taiwan as the base, the startup is gaining growth support from TTA and SparkLabs Taiwan, and achieving some success in the market."I've been in the AI industry since 2018, and we've seen so much progression in AI, especially with ChatGPT coming out and all those technologies." Eric, the Co-founder & CEO of Colega AI, said, "I'd like to see how I can combine my knowledge in AI and apply it to Industries that still need to be innovative and catch up to modern technology, and what better industry than the industry that I grew up in?"According to Eric's observations and experience, most restaurant operators do not understand new technologies or think it will be quite difficult to learn how to use them, particularly small and medium-sized businesses with tight human resources. Therefore, his philosophy is to provide AI tools that are easy to use even for those who do not know technology, allowing restaurant owners to focus on what they do best: providing delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere for their guests.Colega AI's users don't need to know programming or go through the cumbersome process of registering, obtaining an account, and filling out numerous forms. They just need to connect with Colega via instant messenger like LINE or WhatsApp, link their social media accounts, and gain an exclusive 24/7 Social Media Manager who creates engaging content to attract online attention for their restaurant.Building exclusive AI model for the F&B industryOf course, the effort and technical expertise required to create such a simple and user-friendly tool is beyond what the end users can imagine. In creating an AI assistant specifically for restaurant owners, Colega chose open-source large language models as the foundation and retrained them with the datasets collected by themselves. During the initial launch phase of Colega's service, they also did extensive manual work on the model fine-tuning to ensure the correct and fluent language they provide, especially the Traditional Chinese used in Taiwan."We take a very careful approach to train our AI model, it's because we want our AI-powered social media manager to be like you're essentially talking to a Taiwanese person." Eric explained, "So everything we do revolves around that. One of the big features that Colega AI can do is proactively tell you, give you ideas or suggestions of what to post, and the data sources come from what's happening around you in Taiwan."For example, if an international superstar recently came to Taiwan, Colega's users will get a message and give suggestions to create a post to capitalize on this hot topic. "So, we have to understand the local events and trends, even the weather. When it comes down to language, we don't just do a lot of manual work at the moment to make sure that the tone, slang, and phrases or grammar are consistent with the everyday language used by people in Taiwan. We can also learn the users' habitual expressions and preferences from their social media posts to create personalized content for them. It takes a lot of work, but we plan to apply this standard and approach to every international market we enter. It's about respecting each country's nuances," Eric added.Establishing a foothold and expanding to broader marketsColega AI is still in a very early stage. The team is currently gaining experience and continuously improving service quality through close collaboration with both independent restaurants and restaurant chains based in Taiwan. According to Eric, Colega AI offers its services through a monthly or annual subscription. In addition to providing suggestions for social media content posts, the company can also offer customized reports on post engagement and follower analysis. This allows F&B operators to gain valuable insights into how social media tools can help their business.Currently, Colega AI's services are already operating in Taiwan and the United States through LINE and WhatsApp. The startup also plans to enter Japan, where social media marketing and LINE usage are prevalent, and they have already received ongoing interest from restaurants there and across Asia. As for other industries beyond the F&B business that also need social media management, Eric mentioned that while Colega AI hopes to serve a broader market, building datasets and training custom models for specific industries is a demanding task. Therefore, the team will first focus on the areas they are familiar with, and establish a solid foothold before considering longer-term future developments.

Semiconductor process technology advancements have enabled extreme miniaturization of electronic devices. Coupled with battery technology breakthroughs and AI algorithm maturity, these developments have given rise to increasing popularity of unmanned vehicles. In particular, the market of unmanned aerial vehicles is of the largest scale.According to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone market is projected to reach US$140 billion in ten years. Aside from drones, unmanned vehicles are being designed and used for a wide range of application scenarios. For example, governments around the world are investing into autonomous driving vehicles as part of their efforts to improve public transportation. Automated guided vehicles (AGV) are also widely used at warehouses and factories to raise efficiency and reduce labor costs.DROXO CEO Chun Lin Liu noted that drones are used to do many things, for example, spraying pesticides, shooting videos and delivering packages. There have been a multitude of successful use cases. However, drones have limitations such as inability to navigate confined spaces. For the routine maintenance or repair of industrial equipment made of carbon steel such as petrochemical storage tanks, large vessels and wind turbines, purpose-built unmanned vehicle solutions are required.This market segment currently does not offer a lot of choices. Existing solutions are mostly provided by foreign device suppliers and generally do not deliver satisfactory results. DROXO is among the few suppliers capable of providing complete smart storage tank maintenance solutions. Its products have been used to successfully address customer needs in Taiwan. DROXO is also in talks with overseas partners to expand its footprint worldwide.DROXO builds special-purpose solutions to overcome challenges in large storage tank maintenanceStarting out its business developing drone technologies, DROXO chose to endeavor on agriculture drones with a lower entry barrier when it was first established in 2019. It was able to commercialize its agriculture drones and made significant progress within a short period of time. On the foundation, DROXO independently developed wall-climbing intelligent vehicles which received the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Business Startup Award - Innovative Traditional Industry Category 2023.On the basis of the outstanding achievements, DROXO continues to fulfill customer needs by integrating all types of sensors, mechanical designs and automation accessories while staying committed to technological advancements and innovations. On top of that, DROXO leverages its robust hardware mechanical design and software/firmware development capabilities accumulated over time to develop smart vehicles for industrial applications. Not only has DROXO had its R&D results validated but it has also mastered critical technologies.According to Liu, DROXO's wall-climbing intelligent vehicles enable the maintenance work on storage tanks to be performed without the need for scaffolding. Leading chemical suppliers have approached DROXO for the labor cost savings its solutions can bring when they are used to inspect or service large storage tanks. Multiple leading Taiwan-based manufacturers including China Steel, LCY Chemical and Chang Chun Chemical have adopted DROXO's solutions for the purpose of eliminating the risks and uncertainties when using human workers to service or inspect storage tanks.AAROW series of storage tank maintenance solutions. Credit: DROXOForaying into Japan and the Middle East, DROXO taps immense maintenance opportunitiesDROXO has recently introduced a whole-new and complete range of intelligent storage tank maintenance solutions, including AAAROW Scan, AAROW Blast, AAROW Coater and AAROW DECK. Among them, AAROW Scan adheres to the tank wall using neodymium magnets and checks the wall and coating thickness with non-destructive inspection equipment. The inspection results are presented in 3D visualization on ARROW DECK. DROXO's unique product received the 2024 Taiwan Excellence Silver Award.Liu commented that the traditional approach of using human workers to perform storage tank maintenance is very risky. First of all, workers might fall from a scaffold or inhale harmful fumes when doing coating. Furthermore, workers manually measuring tank wall thickness might make mistakes and fail to discover weak spots that will soon crack. The traditional approach also does not allow manufacturers to build 3D models of the tank. Each one of these challenges can be addressed with DROXO's intelligent storage tank maintenance solutions. DROXO operates by providing services instead of selling products. Apart from Taiwan, it is also working with partners in Singapore, Japan and the Middle East to provide services in the local markets.DROXO has focused efforts on technology R&D. Thanks to the assistance from flyingV, stationed in TTA, not only is DROXO able to strengthen its financial planning and business operation skills, but it also gained access to funding from venture capital firms, allowing it to secure market presence in the competitive unmanned vehicle sector.

In the face of growingly intense market competition, companies began to sell gift cards or vouchers decades ago to maintain steady growth.This approach allows them to get paid in advance while encouraging consumer spending. Today almost every consumer has a mobile device so electronic vouchers or tickets are replacing the printed version to become the mainstream.Especially when COVID-19 gave rise to zero-contact shopping, e-vouchers became something that consumers preferred. Seeing that e-vouchers might be susceptible to cybercrime, more and more vendors now integrate blockchain with e-voucher systems and expand their business footprint into the global market.Two groups of vendors combine blockchain with e-vouchers. The first group comprises blockchain startups. They generally don't know the industry well enough to win the favor of international sales channel operators. The second group comprises the original distributors of printed vouchers.They generally work with ICT solution providers but they may not be technically proficient enough to communicate with their ICT partners. 3T GDS is among the very few vendors that have the experience and technical caliber to integrate blockchain with e-vouchers. It was recognized and funded by the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program in 2022.According to 3T GDS CEO Eric Ko, blockchain enables traceability, immutability, and irreversibility. It has been widely used across a diversity of fields. Blockchain integrated with e-voucher systems prevents fraudulent use of e-vouchers and protects consumers and businesses.The security feature will undoubtedly attract partnership opportunities. Safeguarding e-vouchers with blockchain will also help companies expand their footprint globally as overseas consumers can rest assured that their purchase and use of the e-vouchers are protected against cybercrime. This is what distinguishes 3T GDS from the other e-voucher platform vendors.3T GDS offers more than 5,000 electronic commodities with its global network of 15 channel partnersAs consumers increasingly opting for e-vouchers gives rise to the rapid growth of the e-voucher market, 3T GSD, a startup founded in 2020, endeavors to realize borderless living with digital assets and tourism banking solutions. Leveraging the popular blockchain technology on top of the team's 20 years of experience, 3T GDS brought together cross-border service providers and formed a big league of international e-voucher suppliers.3T GDS's team of seasoned experts has built a global e-voucher purchase and sales platform providing travel commodity trust and reservation services, aiming to deliver higher quality service and stronger guarantees for every aspect of the travel experience. The company currently operates the 3TEZ online ticket point-of-sale platform, the 3TET e-voucher shopping site, the 3T GDS global distribution system, and the 3T GDS CRM distribution management platform. In collaborations with Trip.com, Ctrip.com, Alibaba, ezTravel, and a slew of other internationally known channels, 3T GDS helps them accelerate the distribution and preservation of electronic tickets or vouchers.According to Ko, not only does 3T GDS enable cross-border merchants to manage their inventory on all international channels, but it also helps them digitize their commodities or services and make them available on all international channels. It consolidates all the orders from the international channels and provides them to the merchant so that the merchant does not have to worry about exchange rates and cross-border payment clearing issues. 3T GDS is currently in partnership with more than 35 channel operators, marketing over 8,000 commodities in Taiwan and over 5,000 commodities abroad.Successfully foraying into Singapore, 3T GDS signed an agreement with a prestigious banking groupDespite the widespread popularity of e-vouchers around the world, only Taiwan and Japan have a complete system to regulate e-voucher execution to protect consumers from fraudulent bankruptcy. 3T GDS learns from the system and has signed an agreement to work with a Singaporean banking group to provide escrow services for e-vouchers, creating a multi-win situation for merchants, consumers, platform operators, and financial institutions.Ko noted that without laws and regulations in place, there have been incidents in Singapore where e-voucher sellers went out of business maliciously and consumers demanded financial institutions for refunds. In view of this, when expanding into Singapore, 3T GDS signed escrow agreements with financial institutions and merchants to safeguard against such incidents. The Singaporean banking group therefore quickly agreed to the partnership with 3T GDS.Thanks to the assistance from Foodland Ventures, based in TTA, 3T GDS was able to add many partners in the food service sector, helping them issue e-vouchers and unlock new revenue streams. Going forward, 3T GDS plans to work with TTA and Foodland Ventures to keep expanding OTA, EC, social media, and payment channels in different countries as part of its efforts to build a solid foundation for long-term growth.