SK Hynix held a press conference titled "Memory, the Power of AI" on the sidelines of CES 2024 in Las Vegas where its CEO Kwak Noh-Jung laid out the company's vision in the AI era.At the press conference, attended by both domestic and international media, Kwak said that the importance of memory will grow further as generative AI becomes widespread. He also said that "SK Hynix is providing products from the world's best technologies to the ICT industry, leading the "Memory-Centric AI Everywhere."Kwak laid out the company's plan to introduce the "Custom Memory Platform" to provide customized AI memory solutions as demands for diverse memory products are growing.Below are the key points mentioned during the press conference.The ICT industry evolved dramatically through the PC, mobile, and now cloud-based AI era. Throughout, data in diverse types and massive amounts are being generated and communicated.Now we enter a new era of AGI built on all that data amassed. The new era will thus move towards a market where AGI constantly generates data and repeats learning and evolution.In the AGI era, memory will play a pivotal role in processing data.The role of memory is even more crucial from a computing system perspective. Before, systems were basically an iteration of dataflows from the CPU to memory and then back to the CPU in a sequential manner, but such a structure is not suitable to handle the massive data generated through AI.Now, AI systems are connecting large counts of AI chips and memory in a parallel fashion to accelerate massive data processing. This means that AI system performance depends on stronger and faster memory.The direction for memory in the AI era should be handling data at the fastest speed, in the most effective way, and in higher volume. That aligns with the past century of memory development that has improved density, speed, and bandwidth.The memory-centric AGI era has a clear leader: SK Hynix. We are providing diverse products with ultra-high performance such as HBM3 and HBM3E, the world's best and widest sought-after products, to markets and industries, TSV DIMM, the industry's largest-capacity server memory, LPDDR5 Turbo, the world's fastest mobile memory, and DIMM, the best-in-class performance server.SK Hynix is leading the "Memory-Centric AI Everywhere" in various industries ranging from AGI, conventional data centers, mobile, and PC systems.Building on our lineup, we will deliver a bandwidth-focused HBM4 and HBM4E, a power-improved LPCAMM, a capacity-expanding CXL and QLC storage, as well as compute-capable PIM and hone our technological leadership in the AI era.SK Hynix's AI memory solutions are delivering customers a new experience.Yet, AI systems are advancing at a breathtaking pace, leading to customer demands for diverse forms of memory performance.While some customers require ever larger capacities or more power-efficient products, others want higher bandwidth and the addition of data computing capabilities.So, we are planning to launch SK Hynix's proprietary "Custom Memory Platform."We will bring to AI systems our memory-specialized technology and R&D expertise for optimal convergence with customers' needs.This platform will transcend conventional ways and deliver an entirely new value proposition, catering to every customer with the most optimal memory solution for their needs.SK Hynix is preparing over 4.15 million square meters of a new memory manufacturing base worth over 120 trillion won (92.7 billion USD) investment.This massive capacity will allow us to continue serving existing customers while responding to the explosive growth of AI memory demand with the world's best products delivered in time.Today, I took the opportunity to share SK Hynix's readiness for a total AI memory provider with a clear plan for technology, customers, and production base.Please join us in the new AGI future we shall open and expand with you.SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung at the Press Conference
ThroughTek Co., Ltd. (TUTK), a solution provider of AI-IoT cloud platform services, will be exhibiting at CES in Las Vegas from January 9, 2024, to January 12, 2024, at booth 50342 in the Venetian Expo. With the theme "Cloud Services for IoT Device Community," TUTK will showcase a series of IoT products and smart PaaS solutions at CES 2024, focusing on P2P Connection, Hausetopia App, Cloud Recording (VSaaS PaaS), DMP (Data/Device Management Platform), Cloud VMS (Video Management System), and more. These products and solutions can help businesses swiftly implement cloud management of videos, data, and IoT devices, and establish an interconnected IoT device community facilitated by TUTK.The key highlights of the showcase are as follows:P2P ConnectionTUTK's patented P2P Connection technology provides fast and secure connections directly between IoT devices and end-user clients. The P2P Connection can identify the network environment and establish the optimal route for the connection. Additionally, TUTK offers self-hosting server options for its customers. With a high P2P penetration rate, customers can achieve cost reductions in video streaming and data transmission.Hausetopia AppHarnessing TUTK's exclusive technologies, the Hausetopia App, a pre-built and user-friendly application, seamlessly accommodates a variety of IoT devices using diverse communication protocols. After receiving TUTK certification, the IoT devices become readily accessible and controllable via the Hausetopia App. Additionally, the Hausetopia App offers easy customization, enabling brands to create branded applications tailored to their specific requirements.Cloud Recording (VSaaS PaaS)TUTK's Cloud Recording (VSaaS PaaS) is a cloud-based platform equipped with API documentation and servers. It provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional video surveillance solutions by eliminating the need for on-site server installation and system configuration. The Cloud Recording service offers a diverse range of subscription plans for cloud recording and storage. Brand manufacturers can select plans that suit their specific requirements or create customized plans. Furthermore, brand manufacturers have the flexibility to offer plans for their customers to choose from.DMP (Data/Device Management Platform)TUTK's DMP (Data/Device Management Platform) automatically gathers, processes, and analyzes data from IoT devices, presenting it in a visualization dashboard. With this platform, businesses gain real-time monitoring capabilities over their IoT devices. Moreover, businesses can customize their data analysis criteria, including frequency, scheduling, and formulas, and visualize IoT device performance with graphs and charts, offering valuable insights and enabling faster, informed decision-making.Cloud VMS (Video Management System)TUTK's Cloud VMS (Video Management System) is a web-based platform that allows System Integrators (SIs), etc. to seamlessly integrate video management features into their solutions. The Cloud VMS directs IP Cameras, NVRs, XVRs, and sensor data to the cloud, enabling seamless management on a single platform. The Cloud VMS boasts a diverse array of practical features, such as the "Dashboard," "Smart Search," "Share View," "Cloud Recording," and more.The "Dashboard" provides convenient access to vital information such as device status, event count, alert count, and event footage. "Smart Search" allows for swift retrieval of specific details, such as gender and outfit, significantly reducing search time. Each channel within the Cloud VMS is equipped with a share link, facilitating the easy sharing of camera footage with authorized individuals. Lastly, the Cloud VMS offers secure cloud recording and storage for crucial event footage, eliminating concerns about video loss due to device damage.The exhibition highlights will only showcase a fraction of TUTK's dedication to harnessing IoT technology for enhancing the intelligence of diverse hardware devices. TUTK remains steadfast in collaborating with ecosystem partners to foster the growth of the IoT device community associated with TUTK.
SK Hynix Inc. announced today that it will showcase the technology for ultra-high performance memory products, the core of future AI infrastructure, at CES 2024, the most influential tech event in the world taking place from January 9 through 12 in Las Vegas.SK Hynix (or "the company," www.skhynix.com) said that it will highlight its future vision represented by its Memory Centric* at the show and promote the importance of memory products accelerating the technological innovation in the AI era and its competitiveness in the global memory markets.*Memory Centric: An SK Hynix vision where memory products play a pivotal role in ICT devicesThe company will run a space titled SK Wonderland jointly with other major SK Group affiliates including SK Inc., SK Innovation, and SK Telecom, and showcase its major AI memory products including HBM3E.SK Hynix plans to provide HBM3E, the world's best-performing memory product that it successfully developed in August, to the world's largest AI technology companies by starting mass production in the first half of 2024.At SK Group's space with an amusement park theme, SK Hynix will display an AI Fortuneteller where the generative AI technology based on HBM3E is applied. The AI fortuneteller is expected to give visitors fresh fun by creating an image of their cartoon characters based on their own faces and reading New Year fortunes.SK Hynix's leading AI technology will also be displayed at the SK ICT Family Demo Room jointly run by other SK ICT companies. The company will showcase Compute Express Link (CXL**), a next-generation interface, a test product of Computational Memory Solution (CMS), a memory solution that integrates the computational functions of CXL, and Accelerator-in-Memory based Accelerator (AiMX***), a processing-in-memory chip-based accelerator card with low-cost and high-efficiency for generative AI.**CXL (Compute Express Link): a PCIe-based next-generation interconnect protocol, on which high-performance computing systems are based***AiMX (Accelerator-in-Memory based Accelerator): SK Hynix's accelerator card product that specializes in large language models using GDDR6-AiM chipsParticularly, CXL memory, along with HBM, is one of the core products in the limelight with the rise of AI technology. SK Hynix plans to commercialize 96GB and 128GB CXL 2.0 memory solutions based on DDR5 in the second half for shipments to AI customers."We are thrilled to showcase our technology, which has risen to the core of the AI infrastructure in the U.S., home to AI technology," said Justin Kim, President (Head of AI Infra) at SK Hynix. "SK Hynix will step up its efforts for collaboration with global players while seeking to accelerate a turnaround in business with its leadership in the AI memory space."SK Hynix showcases its future AI infrastructure at CES 2024 with the SK Wonderland booth, featuring the Memory Centric vision in collaboration with SK Group affiliates
Chenbro (TWSE: 8210), a leading professional server chassis giant, announced that its Tri-load Series high-density storage server chassis had won the 2023 MUSE Design Awards & 2023 TITAN Innovation Awards. Being able to stand out in the fierce competition among tens of thousands of works worldwide proves that Chenbro's product design philosophy of user experience optimization has been recognized internationally.The Tri-Load Design Makes Server Maintenance Easy, Improving Thermal and Operation StabilityAfter the 2U Dual-load server chassis product won the international award last year, Chenbro continued to optimize user experience in the patented 4U Tri-load storage server chassis design. The Tri-load product design allows users to easily replace or install front-load and dual side-load hard drives, which improves the convenience and safety of maintenance personnel and significantly improves server thermal performance to achieve 24/7 rock-solid stability.Generally, servers are usually configured with hard drives on the front or rear. Chenbro's innovative Tri-load hard-drive configurations allow the motherboard to be moved to the rear side of the server chassis. It matches with the exclusively developed airflow guide for the mechanism to create the best thermal effect and improve the server load stability, helping to extend the product's service life. In addition, Chenbro further cooperated with partners to design exclusive slide rails that can withstand the weight of the entire machine, which is 55.1 lbs. (25 kilograms). Even if the Tri-load product loads with up to 48 hard drives, maintenance personnel can pull it out from the cabinet to replace the hard drives most efficiently and safely.4U High-Density Storage Server Meets the Needs of Large-Capacity Storage for Data CentersIn the past, enterprises might have to consider purchasing multiple storage devices to plan the storage space for 36 3.5-inch hard drives. However, Chenbro Tri-load products can install 36 hard drives directly in a 4U height chassis. In the future, Chenbro also plans to launch a new product equipped with 48 hard drives, which can support SAS, SATA, NVMe Gen4, and other interfaces to meet the needs of data centers for large-capacity storage. The RM43736 can install 36 3.5-inch hard drives, and the RM43736 8T4S can install an NVMe flash device, while the RM43748, which is expected to be launched in 2024, can be equipped with 24 3.5-inch hard drives and 24 2.5-inch hard drives. As for hard drives, RM43848 can even install 48 3.5-inch hard drives. Chenbro can also provide customized services to meet the needs of diverse application scenarios.The AI server market is booming, driving the demand for high-density storage servers. Chenbro is actively developing OTS (Off-the-Shelf) server chassis, constantly innovating products based on customer needs, and providing various enclosure solutions with the highest thermal quality and continuous, uninterrupted operation stability. With the goal of "Whatever's inside, Chenbro outside," Chenbro will continue to provide customers with high-quality products and services as the leading brand of mechanical and electrical integration enclosure solutions for the global cloud industry.MUSE Design Award – Chenbro Tri-load SeriesGold Winner of Industrial https://design.museaward.com/winner-info.php?id=18508 Gold Winner of Computer & Information Technology https://design.museaward.com/winner-info.php?id=18507TITAN Innovation Award – Chenbro Tri-load SeriesGold Winner of Product Design https://titaninnovationawards.com/winner-info.php?id=143Gold Winner of User Experience Design https://titaninnovationawards.com/winner-info.php?id=144 Gold Winner of Innovation in Design / Others https://titaninnovationawards.com/winner-info.php?id=145Chenbro's innovative server chassis once again receives international recognition, winning 2023 MUSE design award and TITAN Innovation Awards
Electric vehicle (EV) makers exert every effort to resolve range anxiety by boosting the EV range by either increasing the battery output or decreasing the power consumption. As opposed to today's commonplace approaches of raising the battery capacity, Taiwan-based startup PurismEV has developed an AI-enabled adjustment system that improves the EV battery and motor efficiency based on driving habit analysis, thereby increasing the EV range by more than 40%. The system provides a quick solution for automakers, ride-sharing fleets, and logistics companies with a limited budget to optimize their operating costs.According to PurismEV COO Ming-hsuan Chu, raising the battery capacity may increase the EV range but it also adds to the vehicle's cost and weight. A smarter approach is to both increase the battery energy efficiency and decrease the power consumption. PurismEV's solution performs automated EV system calibrations based on driving habits and throttle control to thereby significantly boost the EV range with no need for larger battery capacity.As a seasoned veteran in the motorcycle industry, Chu started her career in the motorcycle component import/export business, searching for suitable Taiwan-made products for foreign motorcycle manufacturers. She discovered the enormous development potential of EV components after receiving a big order. This motivated her to found PurismEV with Gigi Huang, who has abundant experience in EV batteries. Joining forces, they endeavor to develop solutions that enhance EV energy efficiency while taking costs into consideration.In charge of the startup's product R&D, Huang designed PurismEV's AI energy efficiency solution to comprise two elements – an in-vehicle system and a cloud-based platform. The in-vehicle system collects the throttle and the driver's behavior data and adjusts the throttle responses according to machine learning algorithms. The collected data is forwarded to PurismEV's cloud platform with built-in digital twin models with the following features: 1) AI-based battery and motor degradation prediction, 2) battery safety and health prediction, and 3) driving habits analytics and creation of optimized control instructions. All these data mentioned above are then sent back to the in-vehicle system to perform optimized vehicle control, thereby boosting efficiency and safety. Compared to conventional fleet management systems, PurismEV's solution delivers more on-target and effective energy efficiency enhancements. Conventional fleet management systems have the in-vehicle computer log the data collected from the throttle and brake sensors which is downloaded from the vehicle after it returns to the base. The data is then analyzed and based on the results, drivers are assisted automatically to develop better driving habits, which is thanks to the unique dynamic calibrations done by PurismEV. There are two EV throttle control modes generally used by vehicle OEMs: Eco mode with power limitation and fixed throttle response curve, both of which could only deliver between 17% to 19% reduction in power consumption.PurismEV's solution dynamically adjusts the throttle curve based on software calculations of motor operating conditions detected by the sensor. The dynamic calibrations taking into account real-time data of the driving scenario, driver behavior and motor condition enable the motor to output a constant torque. Field test results indicate PurismEV's solution achieves over 40% energy savings. Moreover, automated calibrations are performed by the system with no driver interference, which ensures the energy efficiency enhancement is actually delivered without failure.Apart from the energy efficiency enhancement, PurismEV's product development process is another noteworthy feat. Both co-founders are seasoned veterans in the motor vehicle business. Huang, in charge of system R&D, drew on his practical experiences and leveraged Taiwan's complete supply chain resources to develop PurismEV's solution in just ten months, from design to commercialization. PurismEV has also secured a stable component supply. With ready access to components on the market, PurismEV has full control of the costs and volume production process.PurismEV operates two business models. The in-vehicle system is provided on a one-time sale basis while the cloud service is offered on an annual subscription basis. Its target customers include ride-sharing service operators and logistics companies with their own fleets. Its solution has been adopted by a major motorcycle ride-sharing service provider in Taiwan for trial purposes, proven to deliver over 40% energy savings as promised. As part of its efforts to expand globally, PurismEV has made itself seen on multiple occasions in markets abroad and is actively engaging with European and American customers to broaden its reach. With the commercialization underway, PurismEV's solution was recently showcased at trade exhibitions in Italy and the U.S., gaining market visibility. Chu noted that Taiwan-based startups are expanding their presence in the worldwide market thanks to a friendlier environment fostered by government support policies and private-sector investments. The types and quantity of investors are both rapidly growing, giving rise to more opportunities for startups to get funded. Chu hopes for prosperity to continue and invigorate Taiwan's industry, thereby creating a win-win situation for the business sector and the community.Product system diagramPhoto: PurismEVPurismEV throttle controlPhoto: PurismEV
Semiconductors undeniably hold great importance in the global tech industry landscape. As the world's leading brand of standard power supplies, MEAN WELL is committed to providing the semiconductor industry with optimal quality power products and solutions.See here for MEAN WELL's optimal quality power products and solutions.Flexible supply to meet customers' urgent needsWhile the semiconductor industry mainly used customized equipment in its early years, this has changed over the past few years. MEAN WELL's Sales Director of Asia & AN Leo Wu said: "Supply chain problems caused by the pandemic and geopolitical situations have prevented the timely delivery of many products. Semiconductor manufacturers, beginning to see the risks of relying too heavily on customized equipment, are looking for more flexible solutions. That's the reason why MEAN WELL's popularity is increasing."MEAN WELL Malaysia provides sales, warehousing, technical support, and after-sales services in Malaysia and supports operations and timely services in Southeast Asia.With its complete product line boasting various specifications, MEAN WELL provides over ten thousand standard power supply models, ranging from high-power models required for semiconductor testing and high-power consumption applications to low-power models necessary for equipment activation. MEAN WELL's technical service team can make timely modifications, adjustments, and modular configurations according to the customer's unique needs for voltage and current, ensuring that products fully meet customer requirements on time.Keeps semiconductor equipment running with strict power requirementsSemiconductor equipment must be able to operate without pause, 24 hours a day; it also requires basic voltage sag protection functionality in case of an emergency, such as a voltage abnormality, short-duration interruptions in power, and power shortages. Wu explained: "When there is a situation, the power supply voltage cannot drop too quickly. Equipment must avoid shutting down since it needs to be able to operate long enough to store data. And so the semiconductor industry has regulations on these requirements."Standard power supply products developed by MEAN WELL for wafers and packaging and testing equipment have passed SEMI F47, a common industry standard established by SEMI. At the power frequency of 60Hz, for instance, when there is a situation that may cause a voltage sag, such as a lightning strike, typhoon, or startup of high-current equipment, the primary voltage sag immunity curve required by the SEMI F47 standard is: Equipment must be able to withstand voltage sags to 50% for 0.2 sec, 70% for 0.5 sec, and 80% for 1 sec.Several well-known semiconductor manufacturers have adopted several MEAN WELL power supply products that help semiconductor giants maintain normal operations.Many MEAN WELL products have entered the semiconductor industry, with applications ranging from front-end to final IC component testing. The company has now entered the supply chain of globally known manufacturers. Wu also revealed MEAN WELL's new move in the semiconductor industry scene. "Following the development of AI and accelerated computing, which has driven the high-speed transmission trend, silicon photonics has become the next key technology in the sights of the semiconductor industry. Adopting this trend, we are continuing to develop new smart and higher-power-density products and solutions."With the migration of semiconductor supply chains, MEAN WELL Malaysia provides local services.MEAN WELL mainly supplies its semiconductor products to European and American semiconductor companies. Supply chain risks and logistical challenges have emerged amid geopolitical tensions like the US-China trade war. Consequently, companies are opting to relocate the manufacturing of certain products to Southeast Asia or expand their existing production capacities. Among these options, Malaysia stands out as a beautiful destination. Prominent global semiconductor firms like Intel, Bosch, and Infineon have been establishing factories in Malaysia for many years now. Recently, these companies have also disclosed plans for heightened investments there. Malaysia is the sixth largest exporter of semiconductors in the world. Its strengths are in packaging and testing on the downstream of the industry chain, with a global market share of 13%.As the semiconductor and other electronics industry supply chains move to Malaysia, MEAN WELL has established a base in Malaysia to serve customers in the area and use Malaysia as a springboard to explore the ASEAN market. MEAN WELL Malaysia, located in Puchong, was established in 2022. As MEAN WELL's operations center for the ASEAN region, MEAN WELL Malaysia provides sales, warehousing, tech support, and after-sales services in Malaysia. It supports operations and timely services in Southeast Asia and even the greater region.Wu emphasized: "Thanks to its multi-lingual talents, MEAN WELL Malaysia's tech services can go beyond Southeast Asia, extending to India, New Zealand, and Australia."MEAN WELL ASEAN develops local roots, expands into new marketsEven a minor error in a semiconductor fabrication process can result in significant financial losses. The support of MEAN WELL Malaysia's tech service team is critical to helping customers maintain normal fab operations. One big name in the semiconductor industry told the MEAN WELL team: "Without the power supply, a key component, the test equipment in our fab would not be able to operate, directly impacting fab operations." Helping customers solve problems and actively dispatching supply sources, MEAN WELL Malaysia's tech service team also goes to the site to understand the situation on the ground, swiftly solves the problem, and integrates power supplies with the test equipment.In addition to MEAN WELL Malaysia, MEAN WELL Singapore was established in 2021.These are the two pillars of MEAN WELL ASEAN. MEAN WELL ASEAN is optimistic about the southbound market and will continue to enhance its power supply business. It will actively develop local customers in green energy, information communications, and other new fields, and accelerate its global market expansion.
Extending healthcare services from hospitals to homes and rural regions by providing patients with more accessible mobile healthcare is gradually becoming a key policy of governments and healthcare institutions today. ASUS COO and Global Senior VP Joe Hsieh stated that the company has focused on mobile healthcare since it first began expanding into the smart healthcare field a decade ago. The goal was to integrate high technology with medicine in order to assist the public with personal health management and improve the diagnostic efficiency of health units. ASUS VivoWatch wearables and ASUS handheld wireless ultrasound solutions embody the success of this philosophy and have been recognized with the Symbol of National Quality (SNQ) and National Innovation Award.ASUS Smart Healthcare has long worked to supply high-quality healthcare solutions that integrate AI algorithms, medical image processing technology, and a powerful hardware R&D capability to bring about innovations in healthcare technology. One of the mobile healthcare solutions is the LU800 Handheld Ultrasound, which features wireless communications technology and lightweight design. By expanding the scope of ultrasound examinations and effectively improving medical diagnostic efficiency, the product is now not only ISO 13485 and GMP quality certified but has also won domestic and overseas awards including the 25th National Biotechnology and Medical Care Quality - Bronze Award, the iF Design Award, and Red Dot Award.The main factor behind LU800's award-winning performance is the use of AI technology to greatly boost the efficiency of ultrasound scans for clinical physicians. The AI-assist function integrated into the ASUS LU800 Handheld Ultrasound can now carry out all the measurements in just a few seconds, greatly reducing the scanning time required. ASUS also enhanced the user experience by applying AI technology to "Voice Control." Physicians can use verbal commands to switch between ultrasound functions, freeing their hands for the medical procedure at hand. Furthermore, with "Smart Preset" This one-click image optimization" with AI technology can automatically detect the location being diagnosed and work out the most appropriate visual representation. The clinical physician does not need to manually adjust the imagery being presented as the most readable format is automatically presented by the device.According to Hsieh, ASUS hopes to use information and communication technology to overcome the constraints of legacy healthcare, provide the public with a better healthcare experience, and improve the productivity of health workers. Using the LU800 Handheld Ultrasound as an example, Hsieh said that the product was designed to promote the "visual stethoscope" concept. Common diagnostic techniques include auscultation, palpation, visual inspection, and inquiry. While the stethoscope is now an essential diagnostic tool for all physicians, visual inspections must be scheduled separately due to the bulk of the instruments and the need for qualified operators. The LU800 Handheld Ultrasound eliminates the inconvenience with large ultrasound equipment as it can be carried by physicians on their person like the stethoscope. The ability to carry out visual inspections quickly and easily translates into improved healthcare quality and efficiency.Hsieh added that ASUS had adopted a holistic approach in its smart healthcare strategy rather than focusing on individual hardware products. The LU800 Handheld Ultrasound "Visual Stethoscope" is a perfect example. In addition to its lightweight design, ease of use, and high precision, the embedded 5G wireless communication and imaging technology can be seamlessly integrated with hospital PACS. It can even be used on ambulances or in remote rural areas to deliver more comprehensive and detailed healthcare services.On future ASUS plans in smart healthcare, Hsieh explained that the COVID-19 epidemic over the past 3 years led to many hospitals experimenting with the provision of telehealth services via information and communication technology. The development of new hospital software/hardware and their integration with healthcare platforms during this process led to the emergence of the digital health concept. Taiwan boasts world-class healthcare quality, outstanding medical personnel, comprehensive national health insurance coverage, and highly flexible and innovative medical information systems compared to other countries. It is therefore without a doubt the best place in the world for smart healthcare trials. Local initiatives and accomplishments have now attracted global attention in the healthcare sector. ASUS products have already repeatedly won government awards for their product quality and innovation. In the future, ASUS will continue to concentrate on its original mission of greater R&D investment, expansion of inter-disciplinary cooperation, and building complete industry ecosystems to provide the public and healthcare industry with high-quality mobile healthcare solutions.Led by ASUS COO and Global Senior VP Joe Hsieh (third from the right), the team at ASUS leveraged their years of technical expertise and professional experience to develop the latest smart healthcare solution LU800 Handheld Ultrasound that improves the efficiency of healthcare servicesThe LU800 Handheld Ultrasound is a series of lightweight, wireless and AI-enabled products that expand the scope of ultrasound examinations. The product has now received ISO 13485 and GMP certification as well as several domestic and overseas awards
According to the latest Taiwan Cancer Registry published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) in November 2023, lung cancer has overtaken colon cancer as the most common type of cancer in Taiwan. It is also one of the leading causes of death around the world. One of the reasons that lung cancer has such a high mortality rate is that it is often only diagnosed in later stages when the best time for treatment has lapsed. Therefore, early screening is of utmost importance. The DeepLung-CAC developed by DeepRad.AI employs multimodal AI technology, utilizing low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) imaging It aims to achieve the goal of preventive medicine by detecting lung nodules and simultaneously predicting the risks of coronary artery calcification.DeepRad.AI is a spin-off company of Taipei Medical University founded by the university's former president, Professor Cheng-Yu Chen, a specialist in AI research. The company's research and development are centered on reducing case fatality rates through early detection and prevention, aiming to optimize the utilization of healthcare resources in society. Yao-Chi Chang, the CEO of DeepRad.AI, emphasized that the earlier lung cancer is detected, the higher the chances of recovery. With conventional X-ray technology, locating nodules is challenging, and by the time symptoms are identified, the cancer often progresses to stages three or four, resulting in a survival rate of only 10-30%. The widely used LDCT is highly effective and capable of detecting stage one or even stage zero lung cancers, significantly boosting the survival rate to over 90%.Nonetheless, the evaluation of LDCT lung cancer screening results currently relies on radiologists. The latest CT scanners can now offer up to 640 slices, resulting in a significant increase in the number of images for analysis. This surge in workload poses a substantial impact on doctors' productivity. In contrast, the DeepLung-CAC optimizes the clinical workflow to address these challenges.According to Yao-Chi Chang, DeepLung-CAC can provide doctors with preliminary results within five minutes after the completion of the LDCT scan. The patient's old and new images can also be compared to identify any nodular changes, assisting the doctor in explaining the screening results to the patient. Furthermore, DeepLung-CAC can automatically generate lung cancer screening reports that align with the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) standard. This significantly reduces the time required by doctors for analysis and report generation, enhancing the accuracy of test results and overall productivity.In addition to lung cancer screening, the DeepLung-CAC can simultaneously assess coronary artery calcification risks. Coronary artery calcification serves as a crucial indicator for evaluating the risk of cardiovascular disease. DeepRad.AI utilized paired data (i.e., examination data from simultaneous screening for lung cancer and coronary artery calcification)to train DeepLung-CAC. This enables the platform to simultaneously detect early-stage lung cancer and assess coronary artery calcification risk in a single LDCT scanning session. Following four years of research and analysis, DeepLung-CAC is now capable of screening for these two diseases, which rank as the first and second leading causes of death in Taiwan, using a single LDCT scan.The platform is currently undergoing clinical trials in anticipation of TFDA approval, expected to be granted in 2024. Clinical trials are underway at Taipei Medical University Hospital and Shuang Ho Hospital, where the platform has demonstrated improved CT interpretation efficiency.As for the market potential of DeepLung-CAC, approximately 500,000 people in Taiwan are categorized as high-risk for lung cancer, but only 50,000 underwent government-funded screening last year. If the concept of preventive health gains widespread acceptance, this could lead to a tenfold increase in overall screening volume in Taiwan. However, with only 1,600 radiologists currently available, there is an urgent need for AI to reduce their workload and enhance the quality of care. DeepRad.AI aims to assist and optimize the overall process for radiologists using AI. By improving the efficiency of lung cancer screening and early detection rates, the vision of successful lung cancer prevention and treatment can be realized.DeepRad.AI has made progress in screening for lung cancer and coronary artery calcification. The next step is to proactively develop predictions for osteoporosis and dementia. The company aims to contribute to innovative breakthroughs in the fields of preventive health and diagnosis.Yao-Chi Chang pointed out that the team's hard work and Taiwan's innovation-friendly environment are the two main factors to success. In addition to a focus on research and development, precise and effective market planning is crucial for start-ups to promote their products. He expresses hope that policy support from government agencies will attract the attention of foreign investors to DeepRad.AI's technology and platform, facilitating successful commercialization. Looking ahead, he envisions Taiwan refining its laws, regulations, and auxiliary policies to leverage its capabilities in technology and healthcare sectors, creating an even greater competitive edge in smart healthcare.DeepRad.AI utilizes a single LDCT examination and multimodal AI technology to conduct a one-time scan of the lungs and heart, enabling automated lung nodule detection and prediction of coronary artery calcification risk. The examination concludes with a standardized text report for doctors' referencePhoto: Company
With the coming Internet of Things (IoT) era, a large number of devices will be connected to the Internet. While this trend brings convenience, it also brings an increased risk of equipment being hacked and chips being illegally copied. Faced with such threats to information security, the Taiwanese start-up Jmem Technology (Jmem Tek) has developed various products, such as MSOTP and PUF, that can help companies raise their storage density, prevent physical attacks, and generate random data for higher unpredictability, to meet the market's high demand for security.John Chang, CEO of Jmem Tek, pointed out that there are several pain points in information security for chips. First, most memory chips are very similar in their structure, while the main difference is the firmware. This similarity makes it easier for hackers to crack. Second, a large amount of firmware is stored in OTP (one-time programmable) memory. Protecting firmware has thus become the current key to information security. Third, chips are exposed to the risk of reverse engineering. Hackers can easily obtain chip data by removing the coating or using physical methods such as X-ray. Jmem Tek's technology can solve those pain points.Jmem Tek was co-founded by four graduates of the College of Electrical and Computer Engineering of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University—John Chang, Paul Lo, Johnny Lu, and Jerry Chang, with their product concepts originating from John Chang's doctoral thesis. The company currently houses a team of about 15, whose member's backgrounds include electronic engineering and other professional fields. John pointed out that, in its early days, the Jmem Tek team actively participated in competitions to promote its innovative concepts and technological achievements. And it did quite well—for example, this year (2023), it was invited to participate in the City-Tech.Tokyo event for startups, the world's largest urban technology exhibition, hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. In September, it was selected as second place in the TW-SG Startup Exchange Program and was invited to the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH). Then, in November, it was selected into the TINVA TOP 10 Startup by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) New Venture Association (TINVA), showing the company's potential for development.John then introduced Jmem Tek's major technologies. Its patented MSOTP is a major innovation in the field of anti-fuse OTP memory. Each device unit in MSOTP can store two bits of data. That means fewer transistors can store the same amount of data as in traditional methods. In addition, the structure Jmem Tek designed makes it difficult for physical attacks such as X-ray and decapping to attain the storage status of the MSOTP. Since it is also highly compatible with the CMOS logic process, the technology requires no additional photomask during the manufacturing process, meaning production costs can be reduced.MSOTP's low power consumption and small surface area are particularly suitable for IoT, where space is limited and devices are distributed. Applications for MSOTP include secure data storage, key storage, sensor fine-tuning, parameter setting, function selection, etc. In addition, users can also integrate MSOTP and traditional OTP to avoid brute force cracking and meet higher security level storage requirements.In addition to MSOTP, Jmem Technology's patented technology also includes hardware security technology PUF. PUF is a hardware security technology derived from non-uniformity in the wafer manufacturing process. The unique "uniqueness" and "unpredictability" of PUF can generate random sequences in the trust system, effectively reducing the risk of being cracked by the algorithm. Jmem Technology's patented PUF technology relies on its innovative structure to reduce chip area and improve performance, making it highly competitive in the market.The technologies of MSOTP and PUF make the chip almost impossible to crack by reverse engineering, greatly improving the security strength. The company's current business model is to provide design services to IC manufacturers, John pointed out. This technology is particularly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises or start-up teams that cannot easily obtain relevant resources from large IC design manufacturers. Jmem Tek can assist customers with limited scale to quickly meet the security needs of the market.Regarding future development, John said that Jmem Tek will focus on the two major areas of the Internet of Things and vehicle-mounted systems, as well as AIoT protection algorithms and solutions that combine the algorithms on the device side to avoid algorithm theft. There are a large number of edge devices in the Internet of Things, and the functions of chips are single and there are many cost considerations. The company's solutions help manufacturers in this field create economical and simple systems. The automotive market has taken off rapidly in recent years, and industry players and consumers have become increasingly aware of system security. Jmem Technology's patented technology meets these needs. Since the automotive field requires long-term certification, the initial focus will be on the Internet of Things. The automotive market development strategy is to first establish cooperative relationships with industrial supply chain manufacturers and enter the market step by step.It has been about a year and a half since its establishment in April 2022. John's feelings about Taiwan's new innovation environment are quite positive. He pointed out that Taiwan currently has a vibrant atmosphere for innovation, with policies, regulations, and various plans becoming more and more complete, such as the startup cluster planned by TTA and InnoVEX, the startup exhibition area that helped participate in COMPUTEX. For start-up teams with limited resources, it will bring huge help in technology exposure and fundraising. In addition, he also hopes that there will be more resources and policies focusing on early-stage start-ups in the future. It allows teams with the potential to accelerate their maturity and create a win-win vision of co-prosperity for both the enterprise and the country's economic development.Jmem Tek team membersPhoto: Company
Enterprise operations are facing increasing challenges due to intense competition in global industries. Repetitive tasks with heavy workloads, high risks caused by human operations, inefficient resource utilization, heavy pressure during business peaks, and increasingly complex cross-platform system operations—these factors not only consume a significant amount of time and energy but also hinder enterprise innovation. Now, many enterprises have introduced robotic process automation (RPA) to address the aforementioned pain points. The new generation of EMILY.RPA, launched by the startup team BILINK CORP., features a unique built-in web browser that not only boosts work efficiency but is also outstanding in terms of safety, usability, reliability, and integration. Currently, it has been adopted by several large domestic and foreign enterprises.Jerry Tseng, founder of BILINK CORP., pointed out that digital transformation has taken the world by storm, and enterprises have become more reliant on IT systems. In recent years, most enterprises have started to migrate documents and applications to cloud platforms. Cloud platforms can save enterprises the cost of building IT infrastructure and come with the advantage of immediate access via online login, thereby increasing operational efficiency. Under this trend, the role of PCs at work has gradually shifted from merely operation platforms to serving as the portal for web browsers to log into cloud platforms. However, there are information security concerns regarding RPA solutions from various brands that utilize users' web browsers to log into cloud platforms or search for information on web pages. EMILY.RPA has addressed these issues through its unique design.EMILY.RPA has four main features. Firstly, it can utilize RPA technologies to imitate ways in which humans operate computer software to achieve process automation. Additionally, it can directly interact with various types of software and cloud applications, eliminating the need for communication with software developers to perform custom modifications when implementing automated tasks. Secondly, the low-code and no-code scripting functions are designed through the combination of EMILY.RPA and machine learning algorithms. Low-code is a traditional programming method that allows professional programmers to easily adjust processes to fit their needs through minor modifications in coding. No-code, on the other hand, enables non-professional programmers to easily and quickly train and utilize EMILY.RPA through icons on the visual programming interface. It can automatically complete searches for market information and organize such data into specific formats that meet enterprises' requirements, among other tasks.The third feature is, unlike other RPA tools that require operation via the user's personal web browsers and the installation of extension components, EMILY.RPA utilizes dedicated web browsers to conduct operations, further protecting enterprises' information security. Currently, this technology has obtained Taiwan patents, and U.S. patents are under review. The fourth feature is that EMILY.RPA supports Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. Its range of applications can be expanded, enabling different system users to utilize this tool with high efficiency and strengthening the implementation of teamwork and communication. It simultaneously increases the flexibility of enterprise operations and ensures all internal users can receive the same user experience and technical support.The aforementioned features provide strong competitive advantages for EMILY.RPA. Currently, various types of enterprises have deployed it in their organization. Global panel manufacturer Innolux has boosted its work efficiency through the platform and resolved issues that could easily go wrong when handling repetitive tasks manually. In recent years, Innolux has actively promoted smart operations, with the aim of applying RPA in each department of the enterprise to improve their efficiency. Once EMILY.RPA is deployed, it can successfully resolve several long-standing issues. For instance, EMILY.RPA can precisely and efficiently collect price information from retail websites across the world, handle orders with diverse, complex content and special formats from international clients, and automatically complete tables required by companies. Aside from Innolux, logistics companies that need to handle a significant amount of receipts and order tracking information, as well as electronic commerce platforms that need to launch a significant amount of products and have the demand for purchase, sales, and inventory management, have deployed EMILY.RPA. Jerry Tseng emphasized the architecture of EMILY.RPA is highly flexible, and it adopts a subscription model. Whether large companies or small and medium-sized enterprises with limited resources, all can easily increase their efficiency and reduce human operational errors through this platform.Going forward, Jerry Tseng stated that digital transformation has become an inevitable trend. Optimizing work processes through digital transformation has become a necessary strategy for enterprises to increase their competitiveness, and the need for RPA functions from markets will also grow. The new generation of RPA must allow for easy and quick use in complicated scenarios. Thus, EMILY.RPA will leverage generative AI by training large language models (LLM) to enable RPA to swiftly understand users' needs through natural language and directly let robots complete tasks automatically.BILINK CORP. has been established for three years now, and the company has gained the trust of enterprises from different fields. Besides the hard work of its team, Jerry Tseng believes that policy support from the government is also one of the key reasons why the company has achieved outstanding performance. He pointed out that in recent years, the government has been actively improving the domestic start-up ecosystem, optimizing related regulations, and providing support. For instance, the Company Act, which was amended in 2018, allows the shareholding structure of start-up teams to be more flexible, thereby creating more sources of funding. Furthermore, the Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) offers opportunities to participate in international exhibitions. Its aim is to increase companies' product visibility and make it easier for them to meet clients from overseas markets. BILINK CORP. appreciates the support from the government and TTA. The company will continue to strengthen the efficiency of its products in the future. Additionally, it aims to assist enterprises in various fields in implementing digital transformation through features such as high efficiency, safety, and usability.Three main features of automation technology from EMILY.RPA patented web browserPhoto: BILINK