Raising productivity and quality is the top priority when manufacturers of all sectors endeavor to boost revenue and competitiveness. To manufacturers, whether in traditional manufacturing or high-tech industries, the most effective way to raise productivity is to constantly look for bottlenecks in the production process, find the causes, and resolve them. By harnessing the power of data, manufacturers can get to the root of the bottleneck and figure out a solution. PowerArena, a startup specializing in deep learning, has developed core algorithms, coupled with big data analytics and prediction, to digitize and visualize human factors that may have been difficult to detect in the past and thereby help manufacturers enhance their overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). According to PowerArena marketing director Dave Chu, humans are still essential workers in manufacturing today, especially on assembly lines. Despite the transition to data-driven decision-making, the complexity of sorting and tracking the massive and intricate process line data makes it challenging for manufacturers to improve production quality and efficiency. It is particularly difficult to quantify the human factors entangled in the data. AI is the solution to these problems.Human factor data are gathered from workers performing tasks on the assembly line. Chu commented that with the rapidly increasing IoT popularity, manufacturers are able to collect complete production equipment data. However, they still have difficulty uncovering the underlying cause of the bottleneck on the process line and in the human workflow. For example, if a process step of a PCB assembly station taking too long is found to be the main reason affecting the station's productivity, current IoT systems can only collect data from the entire station with no detailed information for the managers to make decisions and improve the efficiency.Leveraging AI technologies, PowerArena's solution analyzes the workers' movements captured on surveillance cameras commonly found on factory floors and then helps factory managers identify factors hindering productivity such as overly complex procedures and unhandy tools. It also makes use of the factory's existing mechanisms to help resolve the bottleneck and subsequently connects to the backend ERP system to do the production efficiency analysis for every work order to thereby raise productivity. Not only can PowerArena's solution raise productivity, the same implementations can also be used to improve quality. For example, a Taiwan-based motorcycle manufacturer recently adopted PowerArena's AI system to monitor whether its production equipment thoroughly lubricates the gears and exactly completes each procedure to guarantee its products are of consistent quality and up to standard. If any step or task is not performed exactly according to the SOP, the system will raise an alert to the workstation manager. PowerArena's solution will help the manufacturer uphold its brand reputation and lower future repair and maintenance costs, enabling a win-win situation for the manufacturer and motorcycle buyers. Chu added that manufacturing industries have been able to boost production efficiency thanks to rapid advances of technologies and process techniques. However, after they have increased productivity and quality to a certain level, it becomes significantly more challenging and costly to keep raising the bar. PowerArena's solution makes use of AI to find the human factors in the details and clearly identify the problems so as to effectively bring production line output and quality to a new level.To support manufacturers' edge computing needs, PowerArena's AI system is based on an on-premise cloud hybrid architecture, combining the strength of Amazon Web Services (AWS), which includes Amazon Route 53 and AWS Fargate for enhanced system performance. Amazon Route 53 is primarily used for domain name system (DNS) routing. AWS Fargate is used for building container images. Those are ways of optimizing cross-department collaborations within an organization while satisfying manufacturers' requirements on confidentiality and instantaneity.PowerArena's AI-enabled smart manufacturing solution is a powerful tool for production line engineers. It has been adopted by multiple Taiwan-based heavyweight manufacturers, including Lite-On, Wistron, and Delta Electronics, to largely boost their productivity and quality. Chu noted that in line with the AI in manufacturing trend, PowerArena will continue to strengthen its system performance to help users uncover human factors in the details and optimize the value of assembly line workers.In comparison to traditional management, AI vision enables accuracy, proactivity and instantaneity while eliminating human errors and data gapsPhoto: PowerArena

The online course model, developed over several years, has witnessed unprecedented growth in the past three years, driven by the global pandemic. Various degrees of pandemic prevention measures implemented worldwide have resulted in a significant surge in demand for online courses, attracting professionals from diverse fields to enthusiastically enter the online education sector.Existing social media and e-commerce platforms are not specifically designed for online courses and lack comprehensive management tools. This often puts creators (instructors) at a disadvantage when it comes to customer management. Drawing from its own experience, Havbeat Technology has introduced Havppen, an all-in-one online course system, to address the management challenges faced by creators and effectively convert their website traffic into money.With Havppen, the distinctive all-in-one online course system, Havbeat Technology has been invited to participate in the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung AWS Joint Innovation Center (JIC). This exclusive platform not only grants us access to free cloud resources from Amazon Web Services (AWS) but also enables our IT team to undergo complimentary training, earning certifications in cloud technologies and cybersecurity. This initiative lays a robust foundation for our company's long-term development."Being invited to participate in the AWS JIC program gave us two significant advantages," said Allison Chiu, Co-founder and CEO of Havbeat Technology. "Firstly, the access to free cloud resources and educational training courses has greatly assisted in reducing our operational costs and enhancing the skills of our IT team.""Secondly, the program has enabled Havbeat Technology to establish connections with industries in various regions, fostering a positive cycle of monetizing knowledge. This, in turn, helps enterprises drive digital transformation, aligning with the trends that promote sustainable economic growth, such as SDGs and ESG."Powerful CMS with a deep understanding of member needsSpecializing in helping creators and businesses establish their own online teaching websites within 3 minutes and initiate course sales instantly. Havbeat Technology's all-in-one online teaching system, Havppen, utilizes a no-code approach and incorporates marketing analytics tools. This aids branding companies in seamlessly integrating their online and offline, virtual and physical businesses, facilitating digital transformation.This system, akin to a content-centric storefront, features a comprehensive front-end and back-end for independent management of listings and configurations. This empowers creators and businesses to utilize diverse forms of selling exclusive knowledge, expertise, and experiences, thereby creating greater value and revenue.Enning Yu, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Havbeat Technology, revealed that when they launched the highly praised online sports course platform, HAVBEAT, they observed creators struggling to monetize their expertise. Faced with a lack of integrated tools, these creators were limited to generating revenue solely through YouTube ads. "They reached out to us, inquiring about the possibility of collaboration," said Enning Yu.In response, we decided to introduce Havppen, an all-in-one online teaching system. This platform encompasses features such as article subscriptions, course sales, appointment scheduling, online consultations, live streaming, physical events, and bundled e-commerce. This comprehensive solution aims to address the challenges creators face in monetizing their knowledge while catering to the huge demands of consumers.Since the system launched, it has quickly garnered interest from various customers from different fields, including language education, generative AI, investment, programming, and NPOs. Furthermore, it has even been adopted by schools and small to medium-sized enterprises for remote learning and employee training.In addition, leveraging the robust subscriber data management function of a powerful CMS system, comprehensive data analysis is utilized to segment target audiences. This involves implementing marketing strategies that foster interactions, aiding creators and enterprises in effectively overseeing their subscriber base. Simultaneously, it establishes consumer journeys and enhances customer experiences. This approach extends the monetization of knowledge beyond online courses, delving into integrated realms of both online and offline platforms to create diverse revenue streams."In 2024, our focus is on continually introducing new features while actively promoting the Havppen brand, " said "Firstly, we are set to launch a Marketplace-style platform, collaborating with third-party partners to integrate various tools for enhanced selective purchasing and modular options.""Secondly, we will initiate the Starship Project, aiming to collaborate and promote with representative companies from various industries across Taiwan. By synergizing these two strategies, Havbeat Technology anticipates a robust expansion in its user base.Utilizing a no-code approach and equipped with marketing analytics tools, Havppen, the all-in-one online course system, assists branding companies in seamlessly integrating their online/offline and virtual/physical business, facilitating digital transformationPhoto: Havbeat TechnologyHavppen, the all-in-one system of online courses, aims to address the management challenges faced by creators, transforming website traffic into revenuePhoto: Havbeat Technology

BIWIN Storage Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as BIWIN) focuses on the research and development, packaging and testing, and manufacturing of memory chips. It is recognized as a national high-tech enterprise and a national-level specialized and innovative Little Giants enterprise. The company has received strategic investments from the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund.BIWIN tightly integrates its operations around the semiconductor memory industry chain, establishing an integrated business model for research and development with packaging and testing. BIWIN possesses core competencies in storage medium characteristic research, firmware algorithm development, chip packaging and testing, test research and development, and global brand operations. BIWIN actively expands into technical domains such as IC design, advanced packaging and testing, and chip testing equipment development.In 2018, BIWIN achieved IATF 16949:2016 certification for automotive quality management systems--an affirmation of the company's prowess in standardized management, quality control, and technological ingenuity. Recently, BIWIN Huizhou Manufacturing Center of Advanced Packaging and Testing accomplished IATF 16949:2016 certification for the automotive industry quality management systems.Specializing in advanced packaging and testing, BIWIN demonstrates proficiency in automotive-grade chip testing, supporting both its parent company's automotive-grade chip business and its independent automotive-grade testing outsourcing ventures. The successful IATF 16949:2016 certification holds paramount significance for the company, symbolizing implementing an intelligent management system, establishing automotive-grade quality control and process capabilities, and delivering premium products and services to customers.Developed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) in collaboration with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) based on ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016 aims to improve customer satisfaction by ensuring consistent production of high-quality automotive products. It is crucial for automotive companies, including manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers, as it not only indicates compliance with industry-specific quality standards but also encourages the adoption of best practices across the entire supply chain. Obtaining IATF 16949:2016 certification signifies a company's commitment to meeting the highest quality standards. Many globally renowned automotive manufacturers now mandate that their suppliers obtain IATF 16949:2016 certification.Capitalizing on its integrated advantage in research and development, and packaging and testing, BIWIN is strategically expanding its presence in the automotive storage market. Starting from the definition phase, the company meticulously controls each stage of the process according to automotive-grade requirements, including IC design, storage algorithm and firmware development, hardware design, packaging manufacturing, product testing, and safety certification. Tailoring its approach to the specific demands of in-vehicle applications, BIWIN has introduced highly reliable, competitive, and secure automotive-grade storage solutions and services, ensuring a safe driving experience.Continued Research and DevelopmentBenefiting from years of technical accumulation and experience, BIWIN consistently increases its investment in the research and development of automotive-grade storage. In the field of automotive-grade NAND Flash medium analysis, the company has acquired the capability to analyze storage medium characteristics under automotive-grade conditions, including cross-temperature performance, data retention, read and write interference, and lifespan. In the realm of automotive-grade storage firmware development, BIWIN has mastered reliability protection algorithms such as data loss prevention and data recovery under automotive-grade scenarios, as well as lifespan extension algorithms like wear leveling and write amplification control.Advanced Packaging and TestingIn the packaging domain, BIWIN excels in the design and simulation of packaging for automotive-grade storage products, along with automotive-grade packaging and testing process capabilities and quality control. In testing, leveraging the rich testing experience and self-developed chip testing equipment and algorithms, the company has established capabilities for high-temperature, ambient-temperature, and low-temperature testing of automotive-grade products, as well as dynamic aging testing. BIWIN can also conduct characteristic analysis and prediction of defective outlier samples based on big data, ensuring automotive-grade yield rates and PPM targets.Additionally, BIWIN has set up laboratories for design simulation, signal analysis, system verification, reliability testing, material analysis, failure analysis and more, to comprehensively meet product design and validation needs, continuously forging high-reliability and superior-quality products.Comprehensive LayoutPresently, the company has launched a series of automotive storage products, including eMMC, UFS, LPDDR, BGA SSD, and SSD, widely applied in automotive information and entertainment systems, advanced driver assistance systems, intelligent cockpit systems, dashcams, panoramic monitoring systems, automotive dashboards, in-vehicle wireless terminals, rail transportation, and more. These products have entered the supply chain systems of leading automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 automotive component suppliers.In the future, BIWIN will actively deploy and implement integrated R&D and testing 2.0, continuously advancing research and production in the automotive-grade storage. Leveraging its profound technical expertise and practical experience in automotive-grade storage, BIWIN will actively deepen cooperation with renowned domestic and international automotive manufacturers. By fully harnessing the strengths and characteristics of all parties involved and achieving deep integration, BIWIN seeks to jointly promote and build a robust brand service, contributing to the rapid development of the automotive industry.More information.BIWIN Huizhou Manufacturing Center of Advanced Packaging and Testing accomplished IATF 16949:2016 certification for the automotive industry quality management systemsThe successful IATF 16949:2016 certification holds paramount significance for the companyPresently, the company has launched a series of automotive storage products, including eMMC, UFS, LPDDR, BGA SSD, and SSD

Avilon Intelligence, a leading drone manufacturer, has introduced its new service for solar panel inspection. Through collaboration with Qualcomm, Avilon has developed a proprietary flight control and navigation system integrating cutting-edge electronic chips to create drone products with excellent performance and reliability. Avilon's solution offers a complete end-to-end service for solar inspection powered by its autonomous drone and AI technology, ensuring that from the initial data collection to the final report, every step of the process is handled seamlessly and efficiently. In a recent milestone, Avilon's solar inspection services have been selected by the top five solar energy companies in Thailand using their autonomous drone technology. This strategic approach has resulted in proven outcomes, with Avilon detecting issues in over 7% of the total solar panels inspected. This allowed the company to promptly proceed with maintenance and repairs, which not only significantly reduced inspection costs but also contributed to increased profits from ensuring the efficiency of electrical power generation of solar farms. A highlight of drone inspections is its ability to detect anomalies that might not be visible to the human eye. This level of detail is crucial for timely maintenance and repairs. As a result, the customer can maintain the optimal performance of its solar panels, maximize energy output, and increase return on investment (ROI). This attention to detail not only safeguards the longevity and efficiency of the solar panels but also demonstrates the commitment to providing comprehensive, innovative solutions that truly meet the needs of clients in the renewable energy sector.Avilon's solution offers a complete end-to-end service for solar inspection powered by its autonomous drone and AI technologyPhoto: Avilon intelligenceAvilon's Autonomous drones for solar inspection are equipped with high-quality dual cameras, including both thermal and RGB, to capture detailed imagery essential for an Avilon Solar Inspection in Thailand thorough inspection of solar panels. Once the drone has collected the data, artificial intelligence (AI) utilizes precision-trained data models to accurately detect and identify any anomalies in the solar panels on the detection platform. The data is then autonomously compiled into a report which facilitates the identification and resolution of any issues related to heat distribution and panel efficiency. This method guarantees a comprehensive inspection process, significantly improving the efficiency and reliability of the inspection process.Avilon Intelligence is a member of the 2023 Yawan Cloud Platform × Microsoft for Startups Program and is capable of processing huge amounts of solar power inspection data by leveraging Azure cloud resources and AI processing provided by Microsoft Taiwan while offering maintenance analysis reports to the operators.Customers benefit from the automated anomaly reports as details of the detected anomalies are categorized according to the type of anomaly and the locations of defects are identified in the reports so that the customers can take further action. Customers are also able to access the data and report through the user-friendly online platform, which also has API integration to ensure a smooth and efficient data transfer to the customer's existing platforms.Furthermore, with the support from the Southern Taiwan Industry Promotion Center (STIPC), the joint implementer of Yawan Cloud Platform × Microsoft for Startups Program, Avilon Intelligence was able to establish partnerships with Taiwanese solar power companies and verify the inspection of approximately 14877 m2 of solar energy demonstration site in the southern reign of Taiwan. In the future, Avilon Intelligence is planning to utilize such experiences to provide services in Thailand and Southeast Asia.Contact Avilon Intelligence now to enhance solar panel project efficiency with advanced solar panel inspection drone technology.Through Microsoft Taiwan's Azure cloud resources and AI capabilities, Avilon is able to process large amounts of data Photo: Avilon IntelligenceAvilon's autonomous drones for solar inspection are equipped with high-quality dual cameras, utilizing AI-trained data models to precisely detect and identify any anomaly on the solar panels through the detection platform Photo: Avilon Solar.

ChoozMo developed its AI-Generated Video (AIGV) creation platform using diffusion models to generate customized scenes and hyper-realistic avatar models from prompts, and leverages Generative AI, deep learning, and cutting-edge GPUs to help businesses rapidly create high-resolution videos while aiming to achieve spatial and temporal coherence in its generated content with each frame from start to finish being consistent and connected.Use of Azure OpenAIChoozMo joined the Yawan Cloud Platform × Microsoft for Startups Program and gained access to Azure cloud resources and Azure Open AI technology from Microsoft Taiwan. This has enabled the creation of ChoozMo AIGV and the use of Azure OpenAI to analyze digital marketing performance as well as generate content for digital marketing, e.g. providing tailored headings and descriptions for optimal advertisements. In addition, through the recommendations of the Southern Taiwan Industry Promotion Center (STIPC), a Yawan Cloud Platform × Microsoft for Startups Program implementer, ChoozMo was able to connect with multiple startup companies and assist in translating their content for brand exposure in Taiwan. The one-stop application services from access to cloud technology and actual implementation have helped ChoozMo achieve diverse development as the company is continuously promoting itself in both domestic and international markets.AI Presenter "Jenny" appearing alongside SET News presenter Ariel Chen in a program in SET NewsPhoto: Sanlih E-TelevisionThe AIGV technology can support translating up to 22 languages. Aside from English and Chinese, it can also be used to create content in Hokkien, Hakka, Taiwanese indigenous languages, Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, French, Portuguese, and more. With that in mind, ChoozMo has partnered with businesses in Taiwan and overseas to create multi-language content.International application cases include- Police Broadcasting Station (PBS)PBS AI PresentersPhoto: ChoozMoChoozMo collaborated with PBS to create AI presenters that can present information on traffic, news, and advisories to the public in Taiwan using many languages. With the increasing number of foreigners and new immigrants arriving in Taiwan in recent years, offering trustworthy translations for the information is crucial.- Chinese Television System (CTS) NewsCTS AI Presenter "E-Win" Photo: CTS Inc.ChoozMo created an AI presenter that used the appearance and likeness of one of CTS' sports presenters, who debuted for the 19th Asian Games to report the sports events held in Guangzhou, China. This AI presenter worked side-by-side with an actual sports presenter who was physically present on the grounds of the Asian Games. While reporting, the AI presenter would have a different appearance design for each report of the Asian Games, representing the different kinds of sports that were played during the Games.- ULightChoozMo created an AI presenter using the appearance of the most famous conductors of the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra and used the presenter to create videos that introduced classical music pieces in English, Chinese, and French.In the future, ChoozMo will expand its services internationally and promote its state-of-the-art AIGV platform to overseas media platforms, first focusing on the Asian market such as Japan and Southeast Asia, and further expanding to other regions such as the US or Europe.

Net zero emission has become a global initiative with many countries having made net-zero pledges. Both public and private sectors are stepping up their efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. Among all the sources of CO2 emissions, road transportation is the most difficult to decarbonize. For example, the EU CO2 emissions from households, energy, agriculture, and industry all exhibited year-after-year declines from 1990 through 2019 while only the emissions from road transportation rose.Combogic founded in 2022, created a one-stop carbon management cloud platform based on its team members' ESG research achievements and AI data analytics to help address net-zero challenges. The solution quickly pinpoints the areas that urgently need improvement, including everything from the factory facilities to the transportation vehicles and the entire product lifecycle from raw material extraction to waste disposal, so that companies can easily get to the root of the problem and roll out corresponding carbon reduction measures.Collecting high-precision carbon data for AI analyticsCombogic Co-founder and CEO Wei-Ming Li noted that Combogic endeavors to help companies reduce carbon emissions using AI technologies. As opposed to common carbon inventory tools, Combogic's solution provides carbon reduction strategies that users can act on, delivering both carbon inventory and carbon reduction in one system while enabling subsequent carbon credit trading or carbon offsetting.Combogic's SaaS collects carbon data through IoT sensors or other mechanisms at the user's site and then sends the data to its cloud platform where carbon emissions are calculated and analyzed and carbon reduction suggestions are generated. The results are subsequently provided to carbon credit trading systems. To companies that only need carbon inventory, it is enough to simply use gas station receipts or electricity meter readings to generate statistical data for coarse analysis. Combogic's solution however does more than carbon inventory. It analyzes the inventory results and maps out the next step for the user to take toward carbon reduction.For example, having only a factory's total energy consumption and carbon emission data provides little help in setting a clear path to carbon reduction. The factory owner needs to know precisely which production machines are the big polluters to make improvements and effectively cut down carbon emissions. To help with this, Combogic's solution collects accurate and useful data, rather than large amounts of unworkable data, and ensures the data can be fed to the subsequent AI analytics step for effective use.As another example, telematics system companies generally use On-Board Diagnostic II (OBD II) systems to collect complete vehicle carbon emission data. However, Combogic Tech. thinks being able to gather critical data is vital to carbon emission analysis. That is, it may not be necessary to add a new telematics device to collect the data but making use of existing in-vehicle sensors will serve the purpose. By precisely collecting the data required for analysis, Combogic's solution saves users from having to install a large amount of hardware, thereby lowering their ESG costs.The biggest challenge to net zero supply chains is the carbon management of the supply chain and delivery fleet. Combogic developed Carbon-data High-res AI-analysis Platform for Vehicle (CHAP-V) to help address the challenge. On the one hand, CHAP-V helps logistics companies stay on top of their customers' carbon data to thereby optimize their service quality. On the other hand, CHAP-V helps manufacturers manage their suppliers' logistics carbon data to thereby guide their supply chain partners toward behaviors that can reduce carbon emissions.World-leading cloud service provider helps startups quickly develop MVPIt is noteworthy that Combogic leverages cloud services to help customers quickly introduce its solution. It uses the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform to build its system. Startups hardly have the budget to procure on-premise resources. Cloud services support dynamic adjustments of computing power and capacity to flexibly meet startups' needs, allowing them to build seamless user experiences with ease. Sparing no effort in trying to help startups succeed, AWS Joint Innovation Center (JIC) offers AWS Activate credits for them to use during early-stage development so that they can leverage AWS resources to create minimum viable products (MVP) and accelerate their time-to-market.Combogic Co-founder and CEO Wei-Ming LiPhoto: Combogic Tech.CHAP-V is a supply chain vehicle carbon management solution designed to help upstream and downstream suppliers, logistics operators, and transportation companies effectively reduce vehicle carbon emissions.Photo: Combogic Tech.

Starting as a software service vendor to becoming famous in overseas markets, Openfind Information Technology Inc. has always been committed to the corporate culture of "Innovative Technology and Quality Service," and adopted the IDC service of Chunghwa Telecom ever since the first day it invested in cloud services because of its absolute stability and trustworthiness."Openfind started as a search engine and later turned into E-mail services with the vision of providing secure communication platforms for enterprises. "Said Openfind's Vice President of Cloud Service, Chiayuan Chang. The Mail 2000 product from Openfind that everybody is familiar with was launched in the year 2000, and not many people used IDC services back then; SMEs usually built their own private clouds when they needed cloud services.Vice President of Cloud Service, Openfind, Chiayuan ChangPhoto: TNL Brand Studio #9816Openfind decided to adopt the IDC service of Chunghwa Telecom in an era when cloud was not yet popular mainly because E-mail was a very important tool for communication and file transfer for enterprises, and the most stable and reliable service quality had to be provided. The business of Openfind continued to expand in recent years, and it has crossed over from E-mail to comprehensive enterprise software service platforms to allow enterprises to ensure information security and company governance while introducing diverse communication tools to prevent data leaks, and perform proper archiving, improve regulatory compliance and conduct post-utilization analysis on the information generated during the internal and external message communication processes of the company.In response to local demands, the efforts of Openfind are favored by the market"We always say within our company that Openfind specializes in helping customers solve problems that major international companies are not willing to help them solve. "Openfind's Vice President of Cloud Service, Chiayuan Chang, mentioned that in response to the coming of the Personal Data Protection Act a few years ago, Openfind developed high-precision interpreting technology using local databases to effectively solve the data leak concerns and audit requirements for enterprises, safeguarding their information security. In the Japanese market, in response to the local regulation that requires listed OTC companies to retain their E-mails for five years, Openfind's secure messaging solution not only allowed the Japanese customers to comply with the regulation properly, it also allowed Taiwan enterprises to satisfy company governance or the information security requirements of upstream partners with the least invested cost using this service.Such efforts allowed Openfind to receive many awards over the years; for example, the MailBase mail archive and management system had the number one market share in the Japanese market for 14 consecutive years and was deeply trusted by local enterprises. Openfind's Osecure cloud-based information security service even won the Best Choice Award for cyber security from Computex this year.Openfind's focus on localized service and customer-oriented spirit hit it off with Chunghwa TelecomOpenfind has continuously improved its technologies over the years and insists on using real people for customer service; each customer service personnel has received years of professional training so that they can quickly respond to market dynamics and provide customers with the best service quality, and this business philosophy hits it off with Chunghwa Telecom. "As the leader of Taiwan's telecommunication industry, it has many businesses and it is a huge organization; however, whenever we had any problems, we always got the fastest responses. " Chiayuan Chang further stated that one of the most impressive things that he remembered was that once, a customer in a specific area reported that they suddenly were unable to connect to the service, so they contacted Chunghwa Telecom urgently to help them check the circuit and troubleshoot, and Chunghwa Telecom allowed the customer in that area to resume operation within a short 1-2 hours; their high-efficiency to solve problems in real-time was stunning. Chunghwa Telecom is also able to quickly identify the core of problems even in areas outside of the IDC service range, giving customers thoughtful feelings beyond their expectations.Top-tier certified professional IDCs allowed Openfind to stay with it for 20 years The partnership between Openfind and Chunghwa Telecom became closer in the process of growth and innovation. Chiayuan Chang said that in addition to its agile and meticulous services, the three main key factors why they continued to use the IDCs of Chunghwa Telecom are: Stable bandwidth, physical security, and information security protection. Chunghwa Telecom has unparalleled circuit quality; it owns 80% market share of the domestic broadband network, has the largest and fastest network bandwidth in Taiwan is over 17,900Gbps, has over 3,400Gbps international bandwidth, and is continually expanding.Next is its highest specifications and certifications for physical security, including its protection against floods and earthquakes, 24-hour monitoring and multiple access management, early fire warnings, power dual feeder circuit, and N+1 backup, etc.; it has also obtained multiple high-standard international certifications including Tier 3 design, ISO 27001 information security management system certification, ISO 14001 international environmental management system and ISO50001 energy management system certification, etc.In addition, the exclusive multi-layer DDoS protection mechanism, active detection, and real-time warning of Chunghwa Telecom IDCs can block large amounts of DDoS attack packets directly and effectively, and help enterprises mitigate network congestion caused by DDoS attacks. Its HiNet WAF firewall and DDoS offensive and defensive drills can also fully ensure that there will be no service interruptions. Openfind stated that only Chunghwa Telecom IDC services can block the various types of large-scale cyberattacks, such as DDoS, effectively; for example, flow cleaning is completed at the IDC terminal to prevent spreading to the end-terminals and becoming irreversible.Photo: Chunghwa TelecomChunghwa Telecom's strong brand power becomes the best assister for the growth of Openfind businesses "Once the Chunghwa Telecom brand is mentioned, customers feel more sense of trust; this can save us a lot of communication time and increase the probability of success significantly," said Chiayuan Chang, the strong brand power of Chunghwa Telecom added a lot of value to Openfind products, and allows customers to use its services with more peace of mind.As businesses grew over the years, Openfind also tried working with other IDC companies on small scales; however, after actually evaluating the benefits, it was discovered that Chunghwa Telecom was the better choice in both quantitative and non-quantitative indicators. For example, although the initial investment cost was higher when using Chunghwa Telecom IDC services, in the long run, the cost was 33% lower than other IT architectures or IDC competitors.The deep local cultivation and multinational layout of Chunghwa Telecom help Openfind map out its multinational territoryLooking into the future, Openfind has more ambition in terms of operation and deeper application plans for its products and services; for example, using more IDCs and multinational remote deployment. Openfind is also considering applying AIOps (introducing Artificial Intelligence into operations) into daily jobs to provide services more efficiently.Chunghwa Telecom IDC has multinational IDC partners that can provide rich domestic and foreign network resources and remote backup services to help enterprises quickly connect to the world; in addition, the innovative smart helper service of Chunghwa Telecom IDC can also ensure that enterprises have powerful support from the most professional teams when they are expanding their businesses, can quickly and easily add new IDCs and bandwidth scales, and obtain analysis reports on the statuses of cabinets and systems, building network operation environments with the best quality easily.The two powerful companies Openfind and Chunghwa Telecom have worked hand in hand as partners for 20 years, when faced with the external changes from the continual advancement of science and technology and the continual innovation of corporate needs, we wish to continue working together to help enterprises transform toward cloud effectively and create the next business peak for Openfind.Learn more about Chunghwa Telecom IDC[More information]: http://www.idc.hinet.net [Enterprise customer service hotline]: 0800-080-365

All kinds of online services are being offered as smartphones become digital assistants that people rely heavily on in their everyday lives. These burgeoning services provide far-reaching channels for digital content creators to show their work. However, this also poses rising concerns over digital content infringement. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Innovation Policy Center, global digital piracy costs the U.S. economy US$29.2 billion a year.Today's digital content infringements occur for the most part in the way that articles, pictures, and images are taken and used without licenses. Video segments being reproduced and/or reused without permission is also a common form of digital content infringement. YouTube, for example, is utilizing AI technologies to detect copyright infringement in user-uploaded videos to protect copyright owners.According to AiiEyes founder YiChun Lai, who has worked in the e-commerce sector for many years, e-commerce platform operators having their images pirated is not just a matter of intellectual property loss. More importantly, the pirated use of their images might mislead consumers to purchase the products presumably offered by the e-commerce platform, resulting in consumer disputes that should never have happened. AiiEyes' digital image infringement detection solution performs AI-based automated checks of images online, thereby enabling a significant cost reduction. On top of that, AiiEyes also offers advice concerning the compensation claim. Its solution has been adopted by multiple e-commerce companies.User-friendly interface and reasonable chargesApart from some people using images without the creator's permission due to their lack of awareness of intellectual property rights, digital image infringements are more often the result of intended acts of piracy. Convenient Internet access makes it easy to snatch a picture online. It's too costly for the content creator to check the omnipresent Internet by himself or herself to catch infringement. The follow-up actions to claim compensation may also be formidable. These allow infringers to keep stealing images from their rightful owners.The most prominent feature of AiiEyes' digital image infringement detection solution is its easy-to-use interface for automated monitoring. Users only need to upload the images and the system will automatically search the Internet and identify to users the websites that might have potentially infringing images. Concerning the charges, AiiEyes offers a monthly subscription plan based on the number of images users upload. There is also an entry-level version available free of charge.Lai commented that on top of AI-enabled infringement detection, AiiEyes partners with Chisheng Law Firm to offer legal advice on having the infringing images taken down and pursuing compensation as most content creators do not have the legal expertise to protect their own rights. The aim is to safeguard the copyright owners' intellectual property through a one-stop service.Impressed with AiiEyes' innovation, AWS JIC provides subsequent technology supportGiven today's maturing AI technologies, AiiEyes decided to make use of the AI services Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers right when it was first incorporated. This not only saved AiiEyes from spending time training its own AI model but also accelerated the time-to-market for its innovative solution. With AWS, AiiEyes was able to win several well-known e-commerce customers and it also joined the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung AWS Joint Innovation Center (JIC). The AWS platform provides complete, stable, and reliable cloud services. Moreover, AWS JIC offers cloud resources for free to a certain limit. For these benefits, AiiEyes has been migrating the majority of its services to the AWS platform.Lai also noted that to cut down the cost it has to pay for the AI services on the cloud platform, AiiEyes is trying to develop its own AI model to reduce operating expenses and raise infringement detection accuracy. AWS JIC is eager to offer technical support and advice on AI algorithms and model training after realizing AiiEyes' needs, which will give AiiEyes a boost for its development going forward.AiiEyes is currently collaborating with CxC Today, a website hosting the creations of more than 4,000 artists, to help protect content owners' rights to digital assets and brand images. Furthermore, AiiEyes is also endeavoring to apply its image infringement detection technology to video infringement detection to capture opportunities arising from increasing awareness of intellectual property protection worldwide.

MKS showcases at TPCA Show 2023 advanced process solutions to accelerate the development of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and more complex smartphone and automotive key electronics.Innovations in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and more complex smartphone and automotive electronics are leading to significant changes in the global technology sectors. To respond quickly to these trends, MKS Instruments with its strategic brands ESI and Atotech presented its combined product offering of leading manufacturing solutions for printed circuit board (PCB) and package substrate manufacturing at the TPCA Show 2023- held in the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. The demonstrated solutions combine MKS' ESI laser drilling technologies with MKS' Atotech process chemistry and plating equipment, underscoring why. MKS is best positioned to Optimize the Interconnect by providing the next generation of advanced electronics to enable new technologies of miniaturization and complexity for the PCB and package substrate industries.Harald Ahnert, Vice President and General Manager of the MKS Materials Solutions Division, highlighted the product offering this year, starting with the latest ESI laser systems, the Capstone UV laser for flex PCBs, and the Geode CO2 laser for HDI and package substrate applications. In addition, he featured the new Atotech vPlate, a vertical continuous plating equipment for advanced HDI and package substrate achieving uniformities of below 7%. On the chemistry side, Ahnert showcased a series of new solutions for advanced package substrate manufacturing ranging from surface treatment (EcoFlash S300 and Novabond EX S2), solutions for metallization (Printoganth MV TP3 and Cupraganth MV), solutions for core through hole filling and BMV filling (Inpulse 2THF2 and InPro SAP3) to final finishing processes for HDI and flex PCBs, as well as for thick tin plating of µ-LED, package substrates, or solder depot. Other chemical highlights include a new silver-plating process and sustainable post-treatments of connectors and integrated circuits (ICs)."We have recently installed new systems of Atotech G-Plate system in one of our global technology centers to drive the production of next-generation package substrates and provide customers and OEMs alike with faster development cycles for new products and materials enabling high-end SAP technology that requires downsizing to smaller feature sizes of less than 5/5 µm lines and spaces," added Harald as he addressed the company's commitment to enabling new technologies.The company completed the acquisition of Atotech in August 2022. During this week at the TPCA show, the industry was also curious about the status of this acquisition after one year and how the company is progressing. Wayne Cole, Senior Vice President of MKS Material Solutions Division Global Sales and Services, answers in this interview. "Our customers are very excited about the combination of the companies, which adds product expertise and know-how in laser drilling, process chemistry, and surface preparation tools. Our sales and engineering teams have been very committed since August last year to working closely with customers and OEMs to expand the MKS product offering for industrial applications and extend our market reach. Market acceptance has been rewarding, and the team has leveraged synergies areas across the board." Cole said.High-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), and more complex smartphone and automotive key electronics enable cross-industry phenomenonLooking at Taiwan's technology sectors, HPC, AI, smartphones and automotive key electronics are the driving forces that bring unique opportunities to local manufacturers. AI applications represent the fastest-growing segment for high-end package substrates and wafer-level processing capabilities. Cooperation among equipment vendors, material vendors, and manufacturers is imperative to meet future roadmap requirements. MKS has worked to create alliances with material manufacturers to process highly specialized materials and to develop the next generation of products more holistically and faster by offering new process equipment and materials that meet manufacturing requirements and roadmaps.Given all the applications in our daily lives that need semiconductors, such as smartphones, wearables, PCs, cars, factories, and medical devices, the industry is bullish on the outlook for semiconductors despite continued supply chain constraints the sector is currently managing through as well as potential softening of consumer demand resulting from tightening financial conditions. Demand for products is also being driven by the increasing innovation needed to make smaller and more complex chips, e.g., AI creating a new ERA of Advanced packaging.One can see supply matching needed capacity, so the 2023 market demand is relatively flat and not growing at the same levels as in past cycles. However, there is general agreement that in 2024 the market will see a need for increased capacity to meet rising demand. Into 2025 and beyond, we will see growth, especially in the flip-chip BGA market, copper-clad applications, and module-based packaging. MKS is working with its partners to develop technologies and applications that are [fully qualified and] ready to meet future volume demands.Seeing the explosive growth of high-end PCBs, package substrates and wafer-level processing one common factor becomes clear that technology challenges remain constant. MKS employs more than 2,200 people in Asia, where many of its global facilities are located. George Yang, Vice President of MKS Materials Solutions Division Greater China Region, says the Taiwanese technology center located in Taoyuan Guanyin, has been built close to key customers and offers key services from process development and pilot production to material science and analytical investigations. "We have been working with leading Taiwanese PCB and package substrate manufacturers and have been shaping the industry in Greater China with our innovative, continuously improved solutions for well over 40 years. This is just another step in our ongoing success story, and we are all proud of the innovative capabilities of our global engineering teams in collaborative projects that enable our customers to achieve better yields, productivity, and performance."Reporter Cheng interviewed MKS' Atotech at TPCA SHOW

Today, Taiwanese citizens visiting Japan can use the mobile payment APPs they are accustomed to, such as JKOPay, to scan the QR code of Japan's PayPay to make payments at stores that may or may not accept credit cards, for example, ramen restaurants, takoyaki stands and B&Bs, realizing cross-border cashless payments. What drives the QR code scanning economy behind the scenes is the HIVEX Net, developed by TBCASoft based on blockchain technologies. By introducing the HIVEX Net, TBCASoft created a win-win-win situation for consumers, merchants, and payment service providers. One can't help but wonder what TBCASoft is like.TBCASoft successfully creates a cross-border payment network based on technologies that drive paradigm shiftsAccording to TBCASoft founder Ling Wu, the company was established in Silicon Valley in 2016. The "T" in TBCASoft stands for "trust."Wu added that before he founded TBCASoft, he worked for BroadVision for 16 years. BroadVision is the world's first company to launch an e-commerce platform. E-commerce and the Internet are considered drivers of paradigm shifts. They have the potential to redefine the game. Seeing blockchain as another driver of a paradigm shift, Wu decided to establish a startup endeavoring on blockchain solutions a year after he left his former employer."For example, VISA and SWIFT transaction messages are routed through clearing centers to proceed," said Wu. On the contrary, with blockchain, transactions are cleared instantaneously in distributed and mutually trusted nodes without centralized organization control. The blockchain architecture eliminates single points of failure and single points of control, making it more resilient against cyberattacks. This is one of many reasons why blockchain will revolutionize the financial system. During his time with BroadVision, Wu got acquainted with the then SoftBank president Ken Miyauchi. When Wu pitched his startup proposal to SoftBank, he received Miyauchi's support and SoftBank's investment. Following SoftBank, NAVER, and Foxconn also made strategic investments in TBCASoft as they realized the extensive impact TBCASoft's blockchain solutions would make. More importantly, unlike the time when VISA was first introduced decades ago, TBCASoft does not have to show the market what cashless payment is, nor does it have to roll out dedicated optical networks. Today when TBCASoft presents HIVEX, people are familiar with mobile payments and appreciate the value of cross-border mobile payments. International mobile payment service providers embrace HIVEX to help them build a worldwide cross-border payment ecosystem. This is also why the heavyweight investors jumped at the chance to fund TBCASoft.From the perspective of security, HIVEX allows a consumer to scan the QR code to make a payment abroad without providing the consumer's account data (such as the credit card number) to the store, which eliminates the risks of data breaches, fraudulent charges, and financial losses. For the multiple advantages HIVEX enables for the finance sector and market, it is being heralded as the VISA of mobile payment. This is far from an exaggeration as HIVEX is a technological platform that will redefine the game.Leveraging AWS resources, TBCASoft is rapidly driving innovationsAccording to Wu, mobile payment service providers generally have no problem operating their business within their countries' borders. However, when it comes to expanding their operations across borders, they have to deal with regulations, exchange rates, international market conditions, and a slew of other issues. They also need to accommodate different transaction protocols. HIVEX can address all these challenges. Moreover, there is no change to the rights and obligations between stores and mobile payment service providers. Users can scan the QR code to make a payment abroad without having to download a new App.TBCASoft has officially launched its service in Japan and is set to foray into Korea in the first quarter of 2024. It is also in talks with other countries. Wu hopes to work with Taiwan-based partners to expand HIVEX coverage to Taiwan, allowing travelers from countries including Japan, Korea, and the U.S. to easily make cross-border cashless payments.Wu also highlighted that from day one, TBCASoft's R&D and test teams in Silicon Valley, Taipei, Tokyo, and Singapore have utilized Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help with their work. TBCASoft never set up on-premise IT infrastructure. AWS offers such high-quality services that a startup eager to reach for the stars can fully concentrate on its core business without having to worry about allocating the time, effort, and human resources for IT infrastructure. Compared to its early years, TBCASoft now makes far more extensive and in-depth use of AWS and will continue to rely on the AWS cloud platform to support its ever-growing HIVEX operation.Enabling Millions of Merchants and Billions of UsersPhoto: TBCASoft