MSI, a global leader in gaming and high-performance computing, announces the launch of its comprehensive AIoT solution lineup at COMPUTEX 2025, featuring AI servers, AI supercomputers, smart energy, industrial PCs, and intelligent transportation systems. The showcase extends beyond core AI computing to system integration, hardware innovation, and cross-domain applications—demonstrating MSI's leadership as a provider of AI-driven and high-performance technologies for next-generation industries."AI is no longer just a trend—it is a critical engine driving industrial intelligence," said Sam Chern, MSI Vice President of Marketing."With deep hardware R&D capabilities and a strong focus on high-performance and AI-integrated systems, MSI is expanding its reach from data centers to the edge, from energy management to smart manufacturing. Through this showcase, we hope to present our vision for a smarter, cross-domain technology future.Product Highlights�UAI Servers × Cloud InfrastructureFull-Rack IntegrationMSI presents turnkey rack-level infrastructure, including 19" EIA, 21" OCP ORv3, and NVIDIA MGX AI racks.• The EIA rack targets dense compute environments such as private clouds and virtualization.• The OCP ORv3 rack features an open 21" chassis with 48V power delivery and OpenBMC support for hyperscale data centers.• The AI rack, aligned with NVIDIA's reference architecture, supports MGX modular systems and NVIDIA Spectrum™-X networking, enabling multi-node GPU scaling for AI training and inference. All racks are deployment-ready and thermally optimized.Core and Open Compute ServersMSI expands its DC-MHS modular server lineup with AMD-based CD270-S4051-X4/X2, CD281-S4051-X2 (compliance with the ORv3 standard) and Intel-based CD270-S3061-X4/X2, CD270-S3071-X2. All systems feature 2U4N or 2U2N form factors, PCIe Gen5, DDR5, and support up to 12 NVMe drives and 16 DIMM slots per node—designed for modular, high-density, and I/O-optimized cloud workloads.Credit: MSIAI Platforms & DGX StationMSI introduces MGX GPU servers for AI workloads:• CG480-S5063 (Intel) and CG480-S6053 (AMD) support 8 FHFL dual-width PCIe 5.0 GPUs, 32 DDR5 DIMMs, and up to 20 E1.S NVMe bays (Intel).• The CG290-S3063 (2U) supports 4 FHFL dual-width GPU and 16 DDR5 DIMMs slots in a compact design, ideal for edge inferencing and lightweight AI training.• The CT60-S8060 DGX Station, based on NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip, delivers up to 20 PFLOPS of AI performance, 784GB of unified memory, and up to 800Gb/s networking—tailored for on-prem training, distributed inference, and collaborative R&D.Enterprise PlatformsMSI delivers complete solutions across DC-MHS and standard architectures:• DC-MHS platforms include CX270, CX171, CX271 series servers and HPMs such as D3066, D4056.• General-purpose systems include the S2206 (dual-socket AMD EPYC) and CS280-S3065 (Intel Xeon 6, 2U 24-bay storage).• Standard motherboards span ATX and uATX form factors, supporting Intel Xeon 6 and AMD EPYC 9005/8004/4005 processors—designed for scalable cloud, virtualization, and storage deployments.Credit: MSIIndustrial PCs × Rugged TabletsMSI debuts the EdgeXpert MS-C931, a desktop AI supercomputer built on the NVIDIA DGXTM Spark platform.Powered by the NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, it delivers 1000 AI TOPS FP4, 128GB unified memory, and ConnectX-7 networking—ideal for developers in education, finance, and healthcare sectors.Also introduced are three software tools:• MSI SysLink: Remote device management• MSI ScreenLink: EDID Lock for digital signage• MSI AI SmartLink: Seamless integration with large language modelsThese tools complement MSI's full line of Box PCs and embedded boards, designed for next-generation AI and industrial automation.MSI debuts two new rugged tablet models—the NB41 and NE21—designed to meet the demanding requirements of field workers and industrial environments.• NB41 features an 8-inch display and is equipped with an Intel Alder Lake-N processor. It is MIL-STD 810G validated, drop-tested to 1.5 meters, and rated IP65 for dust and water resistance. It supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and offers a 7-hour battery life with hot-swappable capability, ensuring continuous operation in mission-critical scenarios.• NE21 is an 11.6-inch model powered by a 13th Gen Intel Raptor Lake Core i processor. It features an 800-nit sunlight-readable LCD, IP65 water/dust protection, MIL-STD 810G test criteria, and 4G LTE support. With a 7.5-hour battery, it is ideal for field deployments requiring extended mobile connectivity.Both tablets support a range of accessories, including shoulder straps, hand grips, styluses, and tablet stands—providing ergonomic flexibility and operational durability for warehouse, logistics, manufacturing, and utility applications.EV Charging × Smart EnergyMSI EZgo Portable EV ChargerMSI EZgo supports up to 11kW output and features a lightweight and portable design, and IP66 waterproof/dustproof housing, which is ideal for convenient charging during travel and at home. Replaceable adapters support international standards (US/EU/TW/JP/KR/AU/Industrial), and it is UL2263 and UL817 certified. Built-in 1.8" display and Bluetooth app enhance user control. It withstands up to 2-ton enclosure weight and 20-ton cable crush force, and includes warranty and insurance support.MSI Hyper 80 DualDesigned for commercial locations with 1–2 hour parking durations, such as shopping malls, restaurants, and cinemas, the ultra-slim 80kW dual-gun DC fast charger measures just 30cm thick. With ISO 15118 and DIN 70121 support, Plug & Charge, and dynamic power distribution, it is optimized for urban and commercial charging environments. Its overhead cable management system reduces wear and extends service life.MSI EV/Eco Series & eConnect System (EMS)These residential/commercial units feature solar-ready integration, 13kW (single-phase) or 22kW (three-phase) output, and AI license plate recognition. The eConnect system (EMS) offers real-time visibility, remote control, dynamic load balancing, and multi-user billing via a user-friendly interface—recipient of the iF Design Award.Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) × Smart ManufacturingMSI will highlight its latest AI-powered Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) built for smart manufacturing and warehouse automation. Built on NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano system-on-modules, NVIDIA Isaac robotics platform, and NVIDIA Omniverse, MSI AMRs enable real-time navigation, intelligent fleet coordination, and digital twin simulation.MSI will showcase two flagship AMR models, each tailored for different smart factory needs:• AMR-AI-Cobot Pro: Robotic arm with AI vision for precise material handling and assembly• AMR-AI-Base Robot: Intelligent delivery and sorting solution for automated warehouse operationsBoth models integrate advanced features such as LiDAR-based SLAM, AI-driven motion planning, and energy-efficient battery management—helping factories improve efficiency, reduce costs, and scale operations.MSI unveils its latest AMRs powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano, Isaac robotics platform, and NVIDIA Omniverse.Smart Transportation – Fleet Management SolutionsMSI is expanding into smart transportation with a diverse range of fleet management products. The product line includes fleet management tablets, telematic boxes with license plate and object recognition function, and smart rearview mirrors. Powered by edge computing and AI-driven image analysis, MSI helps logistics and commercial fleets enhance operational efficiency and safety on the road.Smart Office – AI Video Conference SystemMSI's new Smart Office solution features an all-in-one AI-powered video conference bar with 4K video, auto-tracking, voice enhancement, ANC, and AGC for clear communication. Paired with a 360-degree conference camera and control panel, it enables seamless collaboration across meeting room setups and remote teams.Exhibition InfoLocation: Booth J0506, Hall 1, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center📅 Dates: May 20–23, 2025MSI AIoT: https://www.msi.com/to/aiotMSI AIoT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MSIAIoTMSI AIoT LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/msi-aiotMSI Global YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MSISubscribe to MSI RSS Feeds via https://www.msi.com/rss for real-time news and more product info.About MSI AIoTMSI integrated server in conformity to the cloud idea, satisfy the needs of customers in industrial computers, introduced robots for AI living and realized automotive electronics with human technology to provide the optimum solution of AIoT. It is also a leading brand in AI, business, and IoT market. For more product information, please go to https://www.msi.com/to/aiot

Pegatron Corporation, a global leader in design and manufacturing services (DMS), today announces its inaugural appearance at Computex 2025. The event will be held from May 20 to 23 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Presenting its vision as a "TECH MAKER," Pegatron will demonstrate its unwavering commitment to technological research and development (R&D) and leading innovation.At this year's exhibition, Pegatron will feature four major thematic zones under the "TECH" banner, comprehensively showcasing the company's latest achievements and solutions in high-performance AI computing, E-mobility, next-generation communication, beauty technology, and living assistance. These displays will further underscore Pegatron's vision and strength as a "TECH MAKER."High-performance AI computingPegatron is proud to unveil its next-generation, ultra-high-density rack solutions, meticulously engineered to support the most demanding AI, HPC, and data center workloads. Featuring a flexible architecture, these platforms now feature support for the latest NVIDIA GB300 NVL72, NVIDIA HGX™ B300, and AMD Instinct™ Series GPUs, delivering exceptional compute density and scalability. This architecture empowers enterprises to accelerate AI model training and inference while maintaining optimal performance across diverse and evolving workloads.Expanding compute flexibility, Pegatron introduces the AI GPU server AS205-2T1 and general-purpose server GS202-2T1, featuring Intel® Xeon® 6 processors and support with SMART Modular Technologies add-in cards (AIC) for CXL (Compute Express Link) memory expansion to enable enhanced bandwidth and dynamic memory pooling.To effectively manage the heat generated by these high-performance components, Pegatron offers a range of advanced liquid cooling solutions. These include in-rack Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs), Rear Door Heat Exchangers (RDHx), and full immersion tank cooling—each designed to optimize thermal efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and enable sustained performance in high-density environments.Pegatron's layout in the AI field extends beyond hardware, encompassing its self-developed digital twin platform, PEGAVERSE, and AI platform, PEGAAi. Through these two platforms, enterprises can enhance their autonomous operation capabilities and respond more agilely to industry changes. PEGAVERSE assists companies in building digital twin models to simulate and predict real-world behaviors, while PEGAAi provides powerful AI capabilities to help businesses make more informed decisions.By integrating innovative technologies, enterprises can achieve more efficient operations and better decision-making. The combination of digital twins and artificial intelligence helps companies maintain a competitive edge, especially in rapidly changing business environments. Pegatron enables businesses to establish a more agile and efficient operational system, thereby maintaining a leading position in the ever-changing world.E-mobility & Car computingPegatron Automotive Electronics anchors its strategy in the development and integration of advanced automotive electronics, delivering extensive end-to-end solutions to its automotive customers through robust manufacturing capabilities and agile supply chain management.Amid the rapid industry shift toward intelligent, electrified, and software-defined vehicles, Pegatron is re-architecting its Electrical/Electronic Architecture (EEA) to establish a platform that is highly integrated, modular, and scalable. The company's latest vehicle EEA solutions—including zonal controllers and a scalable central computing rack (SCCR)—reinforce its engineering leadership and readiness for next-generation automotive innovation.Telecommunication & network solutionsPegatron's Communication Products Business Group is set to showcase a comprehensive portfolio of networking solutions, engineered to bolster enterprise digital resilience. A key highlight will be the "Exhibition Hall Rapid Deployment Business Model," an innovative 5G private network solution that integrates O-RAN architecture with Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) devices. This system facilitates high-speed, flexible deployment and real-time live streaming, concurrently supporting crowd analytics and content broadcasting to optimize exhibition effectiveness.Further demonstrating its leadership in connectivity, Pegatron will present the BE19000 tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router. This advanced router supports Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology, delivering total data rates of up to 19Gbps, and is adeptly designed for 8K streaming and robust multiple device connections. In addition, an AI-integrated 5G smart surveillance solution, featuring the Nura 4K camera and MG54AX router, provides real-time detection of incidents such as falls and unauthorized intrusion, rendering it high suitable for both residential and public area security applications.In the domain of 5G infrastructure, Pegatron will display two all-in-one gNB Small Cells: the outdoor PS2400 and indoor PS1400. These units adeptly integrate Radio Unit (RU), Distributed Unit (DU), and Central Unit (CU) functionalities, thereby simplifying deployment and supporting 128 to 256 user connections. This makes them the ideal solution for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and diverse edge computing scenarios.The PR1450 series, specifically designed for seamless indoor 5G connectivity, will also be prominently featured. This 5G FR1 4T4R O-RU is compliant with 3GPP Rel-16. It delivers ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) micro-slot, provides optimized bandwidth utilization, ensures lower power consumption, and operates effectively across a wide temperature range. These advanced capabilities make the PR1450 series exceptionally well-suited for demanding environments, such as warehouses, showcasing Pegatron's strong steadfast commitment to providing its customers with leading-edge technology and applications within the 5G landscape.Consumer, aesthetic & assisted livingResponding to the burgeoning global beauty technology market, Pegatron is set to introduce the "PRIIö" home beauty device, underscoring its robust R&D and manufacturing capabilities and its strategic initiative to penetrate the high-potential skincare market.Leveraging its leading position in electronic product manufacturing and precision assembly, Pegatron integrates advanced technologies such as Elastic RF, Lifting Microcurrent (EMS), Ion Import/Export (ION), Enrichment Pulse (E-Pulse), Fine Light Therapy (LED MATRIX), and Rapid Cooling into the PRIIö product. This integration offers users a professional-grade skincare experience at home. The launch of PRIIö will not only strengthen Pegatron's presence in smart living and health technology but will also provide consumers with efficient, safe, and user-friendly home beauty solutions.In response to the escalating consumer appetite for premium home beauty solutions, Pegatron will further bolster its investment in R&D resources, driving innovation in beauty technology and aiming to become a key force in shaping future beauty tech trends.Pegatron has also actively expanded into the health assistance sector, demonstrating its commitment to technological innovation and social responsibility. In 2024, the company initiated its ''retinal projection device project,'' aiming to leverage cutting-edge technology to improve the quality of life for individuals with low vision, empowering them to rediscover the visual world. This initiative extends beyond a mere technological breakthrough—it embodies a profound commitment to social responsibility. Through close collaboration with experts and end-users, the design team is dedicated to creating a product that genuinely transforms the lives of individuals with visual impairments. Pegatron firmly believes that the true value of technology lies in its capacity to instill hope and drive positive change for everyone.As part of its ongoing ESG commitment, Pegatron aspires to be a leader in socially responsible innovation, ensuring that its technology serves as a force for compassion and inclusivity. The realization of this retinal projection device marks not only a milestone in technological innovation but also a powerful promise to equality and care.Pegatron cordially invites all sectors to visit us at Computex 2025, Booth L0118, to experience its latest achievements in technological innovation and explore the infinite possibilities of future technology together.Pegatron Corporation Website: https://www.pegatroncorp.com/Pegatron SVR Website: https://svr.pegatroncorp.com/Pegatron 5G Website: https://5g.pegatroncorp.com/

INFINITIX, Taiwan's leader in AI infrastructure, today announced its AI-Stack platform has won the prestigious COMPUTEX "Best Choice Award – Computer & System Category" and the Taiwan Artificial Intelligence Association's "AI Award – Best Solution." These distinguished honors highlight INFINITIX's breakthrough innovation in AI resource orchestration. Visit Booth I0006, Hall 1 during COMPUTEX Taipei (20-23 May) for live demonstrations."Recognition as Taiwan's leading compute resource management brand validates our commitment to AI resource scheduling innovation," said Wen-Yu Chen, CEO. "AI-Stack effectively eliminates GPU bottlenecks throughout the entire AI development and deployment lifecycle."Revolutionary GPU technologyAI-Stack's proprietary technology delivers unprecedented efficiency through• Dynamic partitioning of GPUs into secure virtual instances for parallel workloads• Seamless aggregation of multiple GPUs across nodes for distributed computingThese advanced capabilities consistently deliver over 90% GPU utilization, significantly reducing operational costs while accelerating insights and time-to-market.AI‑Stack further distinguishes itself with an intuitive user interface, comprehensive multi‑cloud management, seamlessly integrated open‑source deep‑learning tools, end-to-end MLOps functionality, and automated single‑ or batch‑task execution—making it a truly comprehensive AI infrastructure operating system.Expanded features drive market growthCOO Chung-Yi Chen announced the strategic addition of an Elastic Training Service for optimized distributed training and a sophisticated Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) module for streamlined deployment. AI-Stack now serves diverse sectors including finance, semiconductor, healthcare, and manufacturing.To meet growing regional demand, INFINITIX is expanding its market presence with new offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan. The company will also make its debut at AI EXPO Korea (Booth K27, 14-16 May, COEX Hall A, Seoul).See the future of AI infrastructure and AI-Stack's capabilities firsthand. Visit www.infinitix.aiAbout INFINITIXBeyond AI, to infinity INFINITIX Inc. has specialized in GPU resource scheduling and AI infrastructure management since 2017. With advanced technical expertise and proven cross-industry success, we continually set benchmarks in enterprise AI computing. In 2021, we became Taiwan’s sole member of NVIDIA’s prestigious global "Solution Advisor" program in AI software—a rare international distinction. Our innovation also earned us the "2024 AMD GPU Ecosystem Construction Partner Award," cementing our strategic position with two global semiconductor leaders. INFINITIX will continue partnering with global tech leaders to strengthen the AI ecosystem and deliver practical solutions, empowering enterprises to achieve strategic breakthroughs and fast track their data driven future. For more information, please visit INFINITIX website: https://www.infinitix.ai/en/Credit: INFINITIX

The global leading brand of standard power supplies, MEAN WELL, has over 40 years of experience in the power industry and has accumulated five core values including brand, distribution channels, computerization, innovation, and global certification. During Computex 2025, the company showcased its leading position in global power solutions with the theme of "Multi-Industry, One Stop Shopping". Frank Chen, the Product Manager at the Product Strategy Center, stated that MEAN WELL combined offline physical exhibitions with virtual EXPO model selection tools this year to create a platform that integrated virtual and physical experiences, providing smooth and convenient product integration experiences.Creating Seamless Integration from Model Selection to Application through the Integration of Virtual and Physical Experiences on the EXPO PlatformMEAN WELL's online EXPO divided the product lines into 12 major exhibition halls to provide diverse selections and quick model selection. Halls A1~B4 covered various power supplies from 0.5W to 285KW that can meet the different power and installation needs. Halls C1~C4 provided components and accessories, batteries, cabinets, MPPT controllers, microinverters, and products related to green energy, energy-saving, and energy storage, combined with certification and technical services to provide comprehensive one-stop system power and energy storage system solutions. Exhibits of actual machines such as microinverters, portable energy storage, smart lighting, and solar power systems were specially arranged at the COMPUTEX exhibition booth and were combined with the localized application demonstration cases created by the dealer to realize "visualizable" and "implementable" application scenarios. Frank Chen stated that MEAN WELL emphasized planned production and adequate inventory management in particular, and products can be quickly supplied even if ordered in small quantities to meet the customer's spot needs. This exhibition mode of integrating virtual and physical experiences not only improves experiences, but can also shorten the conversion time from product model selection to actual application. It also allows customers who cannot personally arrive at the exhibition site to grasp the latest product dynamics and quickly select models through the official website or mobile APP, fully demonstrating the core value of "One Stop Shopping".XDR/XTR Series DIN Rail Power Supply - A New Benchmark in Industrial Control Standards: Cost-Effective, Ultra-Slim, and MiniaturizedThe XDR-E/XDR/XTR series DIN rail power supply is one of the key new products featured in the exhibition this time. Its biggest highlight is the innovative technologies in high efficiency and miniaturization. The three major series cover power ranges from 75W ~ 960W, meeting diverse application needs. Two levels are planned for the single-phase input: The XDR-E series is balanced in performance and price and has an input range of 85~264Vac, and its conversion efficiency is as high as 96%. Not only does it solve the problem of high internal temperature, but its case size is also reduced significantly by 23% ~ 45% (varies according to the model) due to its efficient circuitry, effectively saving installation space on the system side. The XDR-E series can even integrate the previous generations of SDR, NDR, and EDR into one model to simplify the product model number, and help customers select models quickly.As for the high-end flagship XDR series, it is based on the XDR-E series and further upgraded. It is targeted to customers with the need for a wider input voltage range from 85~305VAC, supports high instantaneous load capacities up to 200% power and 600% current, MODBus communication function, -40~+85�J ultra-wide operating temperature, explosion-proof/ship class/semiconductor equipment certification and 5-year long-term warranty, etc. In addition, in response to the application needs of three-phase 320~600Vac input voltage, we also launched the new next-generation XTR series 240W ~ 960W. In terms of positioning and specification functions, it is at the same level as the high-end flagship XDR series and also provides excellent performance and the 5-year long-term warranty that is rare on the market, providing more durable, safe, and secure selections for industrial equipment!LOP Series Board-Mounted Power Supply with Four-in-One Regulatory Compliance, Multiple Global Certifications and Simplified System Development Processes to Accelerate Time-to-MarketThe LOP series is the latest ultra-low-profile board-mounted power supply launched by MEAN WELL. It adopts two standard size designs of 4"x2" and 5"x3", with energy efficiency up to 95%. Its standout feature is that it has passed the four-in-one regulatory compliance that is very rare in the market. One unit can cover a wide range of application fields including information, industrial, home appliance and lighting, and it is certified in multiple countries. It can reduce development and verification costs of the system, and simplifies system development processes significantly. Another big highlight is its 150% instantaneous high-load capability, allowing motors or inductive loads to operate smoothly as soon as they start up, improving system stability effectively. In addition, various output voltage selections are also planned for this product family, including 12V, 15V, 18V, 24V, 27V, 36V, 48V and 54V, able to meet the needs of various equipment. Other features include an ultra-slim design of 1" to 1.3" (depending on the model), a wide operation temperature range from -30~+80�J, and the ability to function at altitudes of 5,000 meters. It is suitable for all parts of the world and various environmental conditions. Common applications include: medical testing equipment, projectors, industrial instruments, foot massage machines and coffee machines, and more.The NGE Series Crosses into the Consumer Market: From Industrial Power to Mobile Quick-ChargeThe NGE series power adapter and quick-charge product is MEAN WELL's strategic layout of crossing into the consumer market from industrial power. It aims to build a second growth curve through this and form joint ventures and alliances with upstream and downstream manufacturers to build an industrial value market. This series includes two major production lines, NGE30 and NGE100, that cover complete power ranges from 12W to 90W. The NGE30 series continues the professional genes of MEAN WELL, and is designed for industrial and professional applications. It supports use under rigorous environments from -30~+70�J, and has four major safety certifications including information and communication, medical, home appliance and industry. It also provides plug versions for many countries including US, EU, UK and AU, and a three-year warranty to ensure safe usage. The NGE100 series, on the other hand, is MEAN WELL's first masterpiece for entering the consumer market. It is a 100W dual USB-C PD quick-charge designed specifically for mobile devices that is equipped with the USB PD 3.1 protocol, supports a maximum of 100W output on a single port, uses environmentally friendly all-paper packaging to echo the concept of sustainability, and has been proactively prepared for EU's unified USB-C specification policy set to take effect by the end of 2024.The NTN-5K Off-Grid Inverter is an All-in-One Unit with Bidirectional Functions for Both Charging and InversionNTN-5K is the latest off-grid industrial inverter launched by MEAN WELL; it integrates AC-DC charging and DC-AC inversion bidirectional functions into a single device. It is designed with the standard 2U rack-mount chassis so that it can be quickly assembled and connected when installed in standard 19-inch cabinets. The product supports multi-unit parallel output, and the AC output can be expanded from a single unit of 5KW to 30KW, with three units forming a three-phase four-wire power system. This series supports the optional CMU2E and CM2E-R multi-industry smart controller that can be seamlessly integrated into solar power management systems or energy management platforms. The entire unit is designed and made in Taiwan, and is equipped with UPS, steady output and intelligent switching functions to ensure reliable operation for long periods of time. Typical application scenarios include power supply in fields such as remote mountain areas, off-grid locations, or offshore construction sites; residential and commercial backup power during disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons; complete ESS systems when used in conjunction with solar panels and batteries; as well as mobile power vehicles for disaster prevention and emergency rescue. MEAN WELL is currently developing the "off-grid + on-grid all-in-one hybrid system" NTG-7K5/20K series that have higher power and more advanced functions. It can cover an even broader range of applications, especially in fields such as residential energy storage and industrial/commercial energy storage, and it can also be used with solar-powered renewable energy systems to realize diverse applications such as self-generation and self-consumption, peak shaving, electricity price shifting, and feed excessive power back into the grid for electricity sales.In the future, it will be integrated with production lines such as BIC and NTS to build complete industrial-grade energy-saving and carbon-reduction power solutions to further deepen the integration of renewable energy, and help users realize the "Three Energy" goal of energy-saving, energy creation,n and smart management.Meeting ESG Practices and Energy Transformation: Comprehensive Layout from Carbon Footprint to Green Energy SystemsThe Section Manager of the Technical Service Center, Tony Hsieh, stated that MEAN WELL had officially launched the carbon footprint platform in December of 2023, and is working towards the goal of carbon neutrality along with its supply chain partners. Its product development strategies focus on four major aspects: the integration of high efficiency and low power consumption, miniaturized carbon reduction, environmentally friendly packaging, and power recycling functions. The company also launched the "distributor demonstration site program" and built localized energy application demonstrations all over Taiwan to cultivate a system-integrated ecosystem, allowing customers to understand the integration and application of our products intuitively through on-site scenario navigation. Looking into the future, MEAN WELL will continue to deepen its product layout, promote cloud-based model selection and the virtual/physical integrated one-stop shopping experience, and use the locally designed and manufactured advantage to build an international power system brand in the green energy transformation trend, and actively strive to become a century-old benchmark enterprise in the global standard power supply industry.MEAN WELL showcased compact and high-efficiency power products integrated with the "Multi-Industry x One Stop Shopping" strategy to meet AI and ESG power requirements comprehensively.

VIA Labs, Inc. (VLI), a leading provider of USB4, SuperSpeed USB, USB PD Controllers, and Display Controllers, has unveiled a USB4 gaming dock reference design that meets the latest EU EUP/ERP energy efficiency requirements. The design features VL832, a USB-IF certified USB4 Device Controller; VL109, a USB PD 3.2 certified Power Delivery Controller; and VL605, a DisplayPort to HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter. VIA Labs will showcase its latest product solution at Computex 2025 from May 20 to 23 at the Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1, USB-IF Community – VIA Labs, Inc. (Booth N0313).Since the launch of Nintendo's Switch in 2017, which became a massive hit with its support for both handheld and TV modes, the market has seen the emergence of various gaming handheld consoles. Valve's Steam Deck has attracted significant attention due to its impressive ability to run PC games. Subsequently, gaming handhelds such as ASUS ROG Ally, MSI CLAW, Lenovo Legion Go, and Acer Nitro Blaze series have also been released, rapidly expanding the handheld gaming market. There are even speculations that Xbox and PlayStation will launch handheld gaming consoles in 2027. These gaming handhelds are equipped with powerful and efficient graphics processors, capable of running various AAA game titles while using battery power. They also support VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology, which enhances the gaming experience by eliminating screen tearing, reducing input lag, and improving overall game smoothness. Moreover, these handhelds support USB-C connectivity, allowing users to switch from handheld mode to TV mode and enjoy gaming on a television or gaming monitor for a more immersive visual experience. Most of these gaming devices also support USB4 or Intel Thunderbolt, enabling high-speed video, audio, and USB data transmission at up to 40Gbps.Concurrently, within the wider regulatory environment for electronic goods, the EU's EUP (Energy-Using Products) and ERP (Energy-Related Products) regulations are also evolving. These aim to reduce the environmental impact of energy-consuming products and improve energy efficiency. The updated regulation (EU) 2023/826 expands the scope of control and imposes stricter power consumption limits for electronic and electrical equipment in off, standby, and networked standby modes. Starting May 9, 2025, products must comply with the new requirements, with power consumption not exceeding 0.5 watts in standby or off mode. From 2027 onward, the limit will be further reduced to 0.3 watts.In response to emerging trends in the gaming market and the upcoming EU 2027 EUP/ERP regulations, VIA Labs has introduced a USB4 gaming dock reference design that delivers new levels of functionality and performance while meeting these stringent energy efficiency standards. The design features the VL109, a 3-port USB PD 3.2 controller optimized for ultra-low standby power consumption. It supports the USB4 device controller VL832, enabling USB4 40Gbps or legacy DisplayPort Alternate Mode, and also provides USB PD EPR charge-through, delivering up to 140W of power to the host. In standby mode—when the upstream port is not connected to host—the design intelligently manages power to other key components on the board, reducing total power consumption to only 10 milliwatts. This is significantly below the 300 milliwatt limit mandated by the 2027 EUP/ERP standby/off-mode requirements, offering very large margin for developers to implement additional features or functionality.To provide flexible yet cost-effective display options for gamers, this reference design features an HDMI 2.1 port and a USB-C port supporting DisplayPort Alternate Mode. It avoids the cost of a DP MST hub (required for simultaneous dual output) by activating video output on a first-come, first-served basis. Gamers can easily connect to either HDMI Displays or the growing range of USB-C portable monitors. Through VL832's USB4 DP tunneling mode, either interface can deliver high refresh rates of up to 4K@240Hz.Another highlight of this reference design is the VL605, a fully VRR-capable HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter. The VL605 converts DisplayPort signals from the VL832 into HDMI 2.1 output at up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz. It preserves VRR capabilities by translating DisplayPort's Adaptive Sync for seamless operation over HDMI 2.1. This ensures seamless VRR functionality is enabled across AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible platforms. Furthermore, VL605 has passed AMD FreeSync validation testing, and its OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier) has been incorporated into AMD's latest GPU drivers, enabling FreeSync Premium Pro functionality on compatible AMD platforms as well. Additionally, VL605 supports LPCM and various compressed audio formats. It integrates a DSC decoder and complies with the latest DisplayPort 2.1 standard, supporting both Autonomous Mode and Source-controlled Mode, which provide enhanced control capabilities for the signal source. To safeguard against malicious firmware attacks, VL605 also enables secure firmware updates via built-in ECDSA authentication.Huineng Chang, Director of Product Management Division at VIA Labs, emphasized the potential of VL605 in the gaming market. He stated: "With increasingly powerful handheld game consoles entering the market, mobile chipsets from Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek now support hardware-based ray tracing. This marks a shift where gamers are no longer confined to traditional consoles like Xbox or PlayStation, but can enjoy AAA titles on handheld game consoles. On the other hand, many of today's TVs support high refresh rates and Game Mode, while portable monitors have also become more popular and widely adopted. In response to these trends, VIA Labs has introduced this reference design alongside a range of USB Hub and USB PD controllers, enabling VL605 to support USB-C multifunction docks with USB PD charging and compliance with the 2027 EUP/ERP energy regulations. With VRR support across platforms, VL605 empowers handheld game consoles to transform into high-end home gaming consoles, delivering a gaming experience that rivals traditional console systems."VIA Labs VL605: https://www.via-labs.com/product_show.php?id=123VIA Labs VL832: https://www.via-labs.com/product_show.php?id=119VIA Labs Exhibition InformationComputex Taipei 2025Date: 2025/5/20-23Location: Nangang Exhibition Hall, Hall 1, Taipei, TaiwanBooth: VIA Labs, Inc. at USB-IF Community (N0313)About VIA Labs, Inc.VIA Labs, Inc. (VLI) is a leading supplier of USB4, SuperSpeed USB, USB PD Controllers, and Display Controllers. A subsidiary VIA Technologies, Inc., VLI leverages its expertise in analog circuit design, high-speed serial interfaces, and systems integration to create a rich product portfolio that includes USB Host, Hub, and Device controllers in addition to USB PD and charging controllers. VIA Labs, Inc. has demonstrated technology and industry leadership through Standards Development and bringing newly developed USB Technologies to market. www.via-labs.com

In today's AI economy, reliability is not optional—it's essential. AI now runs factory lines, city cameras, and delivery robots, where even a one-second pause can trigger costly failures or safety risks. Any AI system that can't operate 24/7 without human intervention is simply not viable.To succeed at the edge, AI must meet four strict demands: sub-100 ms latency, 99.999% uptime, a power budget under 20 W, and junction temperatures below 85 °C. Without these, systems overheat, slow down, or fail in the field.Credit: DEEPXArchitected for reliability: DX-M1's thermal and performance breakthroughsThe GPGPU-based AI systems fall short of these requirements. They consume over 40 W—far beyond what low-power infrastructure and mobile robot batteries can support. They also require fans, heat sinks, and vents, which add noise, cost, and new points of failure. Moreover, their dependence on remote servers introduces cloud latency and ongoing bandwidth expenses.DEEPX overturns these hurdles. The DX‑M1 chip delivers GPGPU-class accuracy while consuming less than 3 W of power. In thermal testing with YOLOv7 at 33 FPS under identical conditions, DX‑M1 maintained a stable 61.9 °C, while a leading competitor overheated to 113.5 °C—enough to trigger thermal throttling. Under maximum load, DX‑M1 sustained 75.4 °C while achieving 59 FPS, whereas the competitor reached only 32 FPS at 114.3 °C. This demonstrates that DX‑M1 delivers 84 % better performance while running 38.9 °C cooler.A key strength of the DX-M1's architecture is its balance of speed and stability. Unlike some DRAM-less NPUs that rely on bulky on-chip SRAM—often leading to overheating, slowdowns, and low manufacturing yield—DX‑M1 combines compact SRAM with high-speed LPDDR5 DRAM positioned close to the chip. This results in smoother, cooler, and more reliable AI performance, even in compact, power-constrained environments. As a result, DX-M1 reduces hardware and energy costs by up to 90 %, making it one of the most cost-effective AI chips available.Credit: DEEPXThe true cost of AI hardware: More than the price tagDEEPX recently supported two customers building AI systems for factory robots and on-site servers. At first, both companies planned to use 40 W GPGPUs. But during testing, they realized the hidden costs:Running a 40 W GPGPU nonstop for five years uses twice as much money in electricity as it costs to buy one DX-M1 chip. The heat from GPGPUs requires fans and cooling systems, which consume extra power and increase maintenance needs. Even if the GPGPU hardware were free, the total cost of operation would still be more than double compared to using DX-M1.When the companies tested multiple NPU vendors for power efficiency, heat, and accuracy, they found that DEEPX's DX-M1 was the best fit for their real-world use. Over five years, DX-M1 cuts electricity and cooling costs by about 94% compared to GPGPU-based systems. This huge saving gives companies using AI at scale a major business advantage.In short, the most cost-effective AI hardware is not the one with the lowest price tag—but the one that delivers high performance with low power, stable heat, and reliable results over time.The future of AI will be built not just on speed or model size—but on reliability. Without stable, predictable performance, AI cannot scale into the real world. In factories, cities, and autonomous machines, even a momentary delay can lead to failure, risk, or lost trust. That's why reliability isn't just important—it's foundational. DEEPX is leading this transformation by reducing risk, lowering long-term costs, and delivering AI that operates independently, safely, and without interruption.Credit: DEEPX

DEEPX ensures unmatched AI reliability with lower power, lower heat, and a total cost of ownership lower than even "free" chips.For Lokwon Kim, founder and CEO of DEEPX, this isn't just an ambition—it's a foundational requirement for the AI era. A veteran chip engineer who once led advanced silicon development at Apple, Broadcom, and Cisco, Kim sees the coming decade as a defining moment to push the boundaries of technology and shape the future of AI. While others play pricing games, Kim is focused on building what the next era demands: AI systems that are truly reliable."This white paper," Kim says, holding up a recently published technology report, "isn't about bragging rights. It's about proving that what we're building actually solves the real-world challenges faced by factories, cities, and robots—right now."Credit: DEEPXA new class of reliability for AI systemsWhile GPGPUs continue to dominate cloud-based AI training, Kim argues that the true era of AI begins not in server racks, but in the everyday devices people actually use. From smart cameras and robots to kiosks and industrial sensors, AI must be embedded where life happens—close to the user, and always on.And because these devices operate in power-constrained, fanless, and sometimes battery-driven environments, low power isn't a preference—it's a hard requirement. Cloud-bound GPUs are too big, too hot, and too power-hungry to meet this reality. On-device AI demands silicon that is lean, efficient, and reliable enough to run continuously—without overheating, without delay, and without failure."You can't afford to lose a single frame in a smart camera, miss a barcode in a warehouse, or stall a robot on an assembly line," Kim explains. "These moments define success or failure."GPGPU-based and many NPU competitor systems fail this test. With high power draw, significant heat generation, the need for active cooling, and cloud latency issues, they are fundamentally ill-suited for the always-on, low-power edge. In contrast, DEEPX's DX-M1 runs under 3W, stays below 80°C with no fan, and delivers GPU-class inference accuracy with zero latency dependency.Under identical test conditions, the DX-M1 outperformed competing NPUs by up to 84%, while maintaining 38.9°C lower operating temperatures, and being 4.3× smaller in die size.This is made possible by rejecting the brute-force SRAM-heavy approach and instead using a lean, on-chip SRAM + LPDDR5 DRAM architecture that enables:• Higher manufacturing yield• Lower field failure rates• Elimination of PCIe bottlenecks• 100+ FPS inference even on small embedded boardsDEEPX also developed its own quantization pipeline, IQ8™, preserving <1% accuracy loss across 170+ models."We've proven you can dramatically reduce power and memory without sacrificing output quality," Kim says.Credit: DEEPXReal customers. Real deployments. Real impact.Kim uses a powerful metaphor to describe the company's strategic position."If cloud AI is a deep ocean ruled by GPGPU-powered ships, then on-device AI is the shallow sea—close to land, full of opportunities, and hard to navigate with heavy hardware."GPGPU, he argues, is structurally unsuited to play in this space. Their business model and product architecture are simply too heavy to pivot to low-power, high-flexibility edge scenarios."They're like battleships," Kim says. "We're speedboats—faster, more agile, and able to handle 50 design changes while they do one."DEEPX isn't building in a vacuum. The DX-M1 is already being validated by major companies like Hyundai Robotics Lab, POSCO DX and LG Uplus, which rejected GPGPU-based designs due to energy, cost, and cooling concerns. The companies found that even "free" chips resulted in a higher total cost of ownership (TCO) than the DX-M1—once you add electricity bills, cooling systems, and field failure risks.According to Kim, "Some of our collaborations realized that switching to DX-M1 saves up to 94% in power and cooling costs over five years. And that savings scales exponentially when you deploy millions of devices."Building on this momentum, DEEPX is now entering full-scale mass production of the DX-M1, its first-generation NPU built on a cutting-edge 5nm process. Unlike many competitors still relying on 10–20nm nodes, DEEPX has achieved an industry-leading 90% yield at 5nm, setting the stage for dominant performance, efficiency, and scalability in the edge AI market.Looking beyond current deployments, DEEPX is now developing its next-generation chip, the DX-M2—a groundbreaking on-device AI processor designed to run LLMs under 5W. As large language model technology evolves, the field is beginning to split in two directions: one track continues to scale up LLMs in cloud data centers in pursuit of AGI; the other, more practical path focuses on lightweight, efficient models optimized for local inference—such as DeepSeek and Meta's LLaMA 4. DEEPX's DX-M2 is purpose-built for this second future.With ultra-low power consumption, high performance, and a silicon architecture tailored for real-world deployment, the DX-M2 will support LLMs like DeepSeek and LLaMA 4 directly at the edge—no cloud dependency required. Most notably, DX-M2 is being developed to become the first AI inference chip built on the leading-edge 2nm process—marking a new era of performance-per-watt leadership. In short, DX-M2 isn't just about running LLMs efficiently—it's about unlocking the next stage of intelligent devices, fully autonomous and truly local.Credit: DEEPXIf ARM defined the mobile era, DEEPX will define the AI EraLooking ahead, Kim positions DEEPX not as a challenger to cloud chip giants, but as the foundational platform for the AI edge—just as ARM once was for mobile."We're not chasing the cloud," he says. "We're building the stack that powers AI where it actually interacts with the real world—at the edge."In the 1990s, ARM changed the trajectory of computing by creating power-efficient, always-on architectures for mobile devices. That shift didn't just enable smartphones—it redefined how and where computing happens."History repeats itself," Kim says. "Just as ARM silently powered the mobile revolution, DEEPX is quietly laying the groundwork for the AI revolution—starting from the edge."His 10-year vision is bold: to make DEEPX the "next ARM" of AI systems, enabling AI to live in the real world—not the cloud. From autonomous robots and smart city kiosks to factory lines and security systems, DEEPX aims to become the default infrastructure where AI must run reliably, locally, and on minimal power.Everyone keeps asking about the IPO. Here's what Kim really thinks.With DEEPX gaining attention as South Korea's most promising AI semiconductor company, one question keeps coming up: When's the IPO? But for founder and CEO Lokwon Kim, the answer is clear—and measured."Going public isn't the objective itself—it's a strategic step we'll take when it aligns with our vision for sustainable success." Kim says. "Our real focus is building proof—reliable products, real deployments, actual revenue. A unicorn company is one that earns its valuation through execution—especially in semiconductors, where expectations are unforgiving. The bar is high, and we intend to meet it."That milestone, Kim asserts, is no longer far away. In other words, DEEPX isn't rushing for headlines—it's building for history. DEEPX isn't just designing chips—it's designing trust.In an AI-powered world where milliseconds can mean millions, reliability is everything. As AI moves from cloud to edge, from theory to infrastructure, the companies that will define the next decade aren't those chasing faster clocks—but those building systems that never fail."We're not here to ride a trend," Kim concludes. "We're here to solve the hardest problems—the ones that actually matter."Credit: DEEPXWhen Reliability Matters Most—Industry Leaders Choose DEEPXVisit DEEPX at booth 4F, L0409 from May 20-23 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center to witness firsthand how we're setting new standards for reliable on-device AI.For more information, you can follow DEEPX on social media or visit their official website.

To cultivate a stronger foundation of artificial intelligence (AI) talent and encourage greater investment in AI research and development, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) hosted the inaugural 'Best AI Award Competition,' culminating in the finals held on May 3, 2025, at the Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1. This year's competition attracted participation from 1,253 teams spanning 36 countries. From this pool, 233 teams advanced to the finals, where they competed for gold, silver, and bronze awards, as well as honorable mentions, across the 'AI Application' and 'IC Design' categories. These categories were further divided into groups: Public Corporations, SMEs and Startups, Students, and International Teams.The Gold Award was bestowed upon eight winners: HiTRUSTpay, EYS3D Microelectronics, Daya Yoo, Jmem Tek, National Central University, National Taiwan University, Touch Lab (Philippines), and Arba Lab (UK).According to an MOEA press release, the 'Best AI Awards' aspires to be Taiwan's equivalent of the "Oscars for AI", embodying diversity, global reach, and a forward-looking vision. Its core objectives are to ignite the creativity of the next generation, foster stronger ties between academia and industry, and nurture a deeper pool of AI-savvy talent and innovative enterprises. Ultimately, the competition aims to drive the industrialization of AI and the adoption of AI across industries, thereby solidifying Taiwan's position in the AI landscape. The competition offers substantial prizes, with student group winners vying for up to NT$300,000 and winners in the enterprise open, startup and SME, and international groups competing for up to NT$1 million.Credit: MOEAAt the awards ceremony, Deputy Minister Ho Chin-tsang emphasized AI's accelerating transformation of the global industrial structure, impacting sectors from manufacturing and healthcare to finance and everyday services. He stressed the 'Best AI Awards' competition platform's crucial role in forging stronger links between talent development, technological applications, and industry demands. In response to the widespread anticipation for AI technologies, the MOEA seeks to foster a practical, application-oriented approach, encouraging innovative concepts to address real-world industry challenges. This strategy aims to continuously cultivate new talent and generate cutting-edge solutions within Taiwan's evolving AI ecosystem. Deputy Minister Ho also highlighted that the competition entries exemplify the fusion of AI technology with tangible needs and creative execution, showcasing the immense potential of translating innovative ideas into viable solutions. Looking ahead, the MOEA will sustain its commitment to facilitating the adoption of innovative solutions and maximizing their value through strategic policy initiatives and industry partnerships.Credit: MOEADirector-General Kuo Chao-chung of the MOEA's Department of Industrial Technology underscored the impressive international engagement of the inaugural Best AI Awards, attracting both enthusiastic domestic participation from enterprises and academic institutions and the involvement of 353 international professionals from 36 countries, including India, the Philippines, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This global participation establishes the competition as a vital platform for the international exchange of AI innovation. To expedite the industry's capacity building in AI talent and applications, the MOEA will not only continue to host the Best AI Awards but also leverage the pilot production capabilities of schools and research institutions to support businesses in design, new product development, and prototyping. Furthermore, the MOEA will collaborate with agencies such as the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration and the Industrial Development Administration to facilitate industry-wide AI transformation and develop practical AI expertise.Chiu Chui-hui, Director-General of the Industrial Development Administration, cited a report by the Artificial Intelligence Technology Foundation, which identifies the 'shortage of relevant technical talent' as Taiwan's primary obstacle to AI advancement. The Global Artificial Intelligence Index corroborates this, revealing that while Taiwan excels in infrastructure (ranking 4th), it faces challenges in talent (38th), research (27th), and commercialization (39th). Consequently, the Best AI Awards are designed to expedite the real-world application of AI and the cultivation of skilled professionals. Chiu emphasized the competition's significance as Taiwan's premier AI competition, characterized by its scale, prestigious awards, and high standards (with a highly selective 7.4% award rate). He expressed his hope for collaborative efforts across all sectors to broaden the adoption of AI and harness its power to drive industrial innovation.The 'Best AI Awards' entries spanned a diverse range of application areas, including information and communication technology (18.4%), manufacturing (16.2%), healthcare (15.9%), wholesale and retail (10.2%), education (8.6%), and finance (7.8%). This diversity not only underscores the application of cutting-edge technologies but also highlights the immense potential of AI to be successfully integrated into various industries.The gold medal winners' covered areas and their attempted solutions to problems are summarized as follows:CategoryTeamWork TitleDomainPain Points to SolveAIStudentNational Central UniversityRealization of Highly Flexible Production LinesManufacturing AutomationTraditional production lines are inflexible and struggle to adapt to rapidly changing and varied production needs.AI SME and StartupData YooFarmiSpaceFarmingEnhance the efficiency and management of agricultural production, and optimize agricultural resource allocationAI Public CompanyHiTRUSTpayVeri-id equipment id verification and real-time AI anti-scam/fraud serviceCybersecurity, FintechSolve device identity verification issues, and provide real-time prevention of financial fraud, thereby enhancing transaction security.AI_INTLTouchLab (Philippines)AI driven TOUCH System – Digitizing TouchDigitalization, human-machine interactionDigitize touch, enabling machines to understand and simulate tactile sensations, thereby enhancing the precision and scope of human-computer interaction.IC StudentNational Taiwan UniversityTernary-weight Transformer model software-hardware synergetic design and neural network accelerator IC design and implementationIC design, AI hardware accelerationDesign higher-performance, lower-power AI chips to accelerate the computation of Transformer models and improve the efficiency of AI applications.IC SME & StartupJmem TekArgusNPU – PQC security edge AI inference systemCybersecurity, Edge AI, AI IC designProvide AI inference capabilities with post-quantum security on edge devices to protect sensitive data and enable high-performance AI applicationsIC Public CompanyeYs3D MicroelectronAI Edge Computing Car Parking Management SystemSmart City Transportation ManagementUse edge AI to improve parking management efficiency, optimize the allocation of parking resources, and alleviate traffic congestion.IC_INTLArbaLab(UK)ArbaEdgeAI Edge ComputingRealizing high-performance AI computing on edge devices to reduce reliance on cloud computing, enhance response speed, and improve privacy protection.Source: MOEAThe winning entries of the 'Best AI Awards' showcased the dynamic development and diverse applications of AI technology, with particularly strong innovation evident in sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing, as well as in the burgeoning fields of AIoT and edge AI integration.The Ministry of Economic Affairs pointed out that looking ahead, it will continue to collaborate with industry, academia, and research institutions, hoping that the "Best AI Awards" can become an important annual platform to promote Taiwan's AI technology development, talent cultivation, and innovative applications, and to continuously discover more promising new talents. In addition, matchmaking events will also be held concurrently during the "COMPUTEX" exhibition every May, with plans to invite more than 20 domestic and foreign venture capitalists and buyers to participate, fostering in-depth exchanges and cooperation between participating teams and the industry, and further expanding the commercialization opportunities for AI innovative applications.Through this comprehensive strategy, the Ministry of Economic Affairs aims to expedite the creation of groundbreaking AI applications and the cultivation of interdisciplinary AI expertise, ultimately steering Taiwan toward its ambitious vision of becoming a globally recognized "AI Island". For the latest updates, follow the official LinkedIn page of the Best AI Awards.

Quebec-based startup Femtum, a trailblazer in laser technology, is carving out a critical role in the evolution of semiconductor manufacturing.Spun off from Laval University's Centre of Optics, Photonics, and Lasers in November 2017, the company was founded by Louis-Rafaël Robichaud and Simon Duval, who are respectively the CEO and CTO.Initially, the focus of the company was on the laser sources. Since it was a spinoff, it had more than 20 years of research that Femtum acquired through a transfer of technologies by licensing the IP from the university.Robichaud and other experts on the team bring a wealth of knowledge to Femtum, including laser engines, fiber laser engines, all the assemblies, and the processing steps that are required to make them viable."Still today, Femtum is the only mid-infrared short pulse fiber laser in the industry," he asserted, highlighting the company's unique technological advantage. This distinctiveness is crucial in addressing the intricate challenges of manufacturing next-generation semiconductors for AI and photonics.Femtum's laser solutions are engineered to enhance precision in essential processes such as trimming and cleaning. In the production of advanced components like Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), and silicon photonics, the necessity for meticulous cleaning is paramount."One dust particle can kill a full CPO package," Robichaud warned, emphasizing the potentially devastating impact of contaminants and the critical role of Femtum's cleaning technology in preventing defects and boosting production yield.Robichaud emphasized that where Femtum distinguishes itself from other competitors is the fact that it not only provides the laser source, but also the optical end, how to focus the beam, how to condition the beam, and a fiber beam delivery. "We have fast shutters. We have optics to focus it really well. We also provide a software suite, which is pretty advanced to do the laser cleaning and laser trimming," said Robichaud.Versatile in laser solutionsThe company's technology is not just about cleaning; it's also about enabling new manufacturing processes. "We can really enable new processes. Epoxy is widely used for the bonding of parts together," Robichaud explained, pointing to the versatility of Femtum's laser solutions.Femtum has already demonstrated the efficacy of its solutions through pilot programs with key industry players. Its partnership with ficonTEC, a global leader in fiber-attached systems, has been instrumental in validating the technology at wafer scale."ficonTEC is the leading supplier of fiber attached systems in the world. They're a German company. They're the suppliers of many of the biggest Taiwanese OSATs," Robichaud stated, underscoring the significance of these collaborations.Femtum is also collaborating with other major entities, including INO and C2MI in Canada, to further refine and expand the applications of its laser technology.As Femtum looks to the future, scalability is a key focus. "The aim of Femtum is to achieve a thousand laser solutions per year," Robichaud revealed, outlining the company's ambition to significantly increase its production capacity. This vision includes the construction of a new factory in Quebec City.Seeking strategic investmentsTo fuel its expansion, Femtum is actively pursuing strategic investments. "We are raising Series A as we speak, and we hope to close this round by the end of this year," Robichaud confirmed. The company is particularly interested in attracting Taiwanese investors, recognizing the pivotal role of Taiwan in the semiconductor ecosystem."Taiwan is a key market, if not the top three markets for sure for Femtum," Robichaud emphasized, highlighting the country's importance for the company's growth strategy. He also mentioned that Femtum already has distributors in Taiwan.Femtum's business model is centered on providing comprehensive laser solutions. "We are a Femtum inside play. We co-sell our solution together with the machine integrator," Robichaud explained. This collaborative approach ensures that Femtum's technology is seamlessly integrated into the broader manufacturing process.Looking for investors, Robichaud hopes to find those that are more than just financial backers. "We're not looking only for people that can provide money, but also people that can bring value to the company, open doors and make those strategic partnerships or strategic projects or customers or suppliers, things like that," he said.With its sights set on revolutionizing semiconductor manufacturing, Femtum is poised for significant growth, driven by its cutting-edge technology and strategic vision.

Vancouver-based startup Clirio is transforming how engineering projects are visualized and managed through its cutting-edge platform that integrates augmented reality (AR), LIDAR scanning, subsurface data, and 3D visualization.Founded in 2020 as a spin-off from an applied earth science consulting company, Clirio aims to help engineering projects make better risk-informed decisions regarding large infrastructure projects such as transportation corridors, bridges, tunnels, and mining operations.According to CEO Gerald Magnusson, Clirio was born from the need to address the challenges of traditional engineering practices. "We're trying to help engineering projects make better risk-informed decisions around large infrastructure projects, such as transportation corridors, bridges, tunnels, and tailing dams for mining operations," Magnusson explains.Magnusson further highlights the difficulty for the general public to comprehend complex projects: "As you can imagine, for the layperson, looking at hundreds of 2D drawings is often challenging to understand what the scope and scale of the problem of the project is." Clirio's platform addresses this by "taking that data and putting it into the middle of the room so that everyone can ask questions based on the initial model, so everyone starts learning and growing their knowledge base around the project," says Magnusson.Core technology and unique advantagesClirio's core technology combines augmented reality, LIDAR-based scanning capabilities, subsurface data, and advanced 3D visualization. The platform enables users to capture, visualize, and collaborate on geospatial and project data in immersive environments.What sets Clirio apart, Magnusson states, is "its ability to integrate real-world 3D data, or what we often refer to as digital twins, into highly collaborative cloud-based workflows, allowing those teams to work anywhere in the world with one another". Unlike traditional BIM solutions, Clirio's tools focus on delivering real-world, spatially accurate visualizations.Scalability and data interoperabilityClirio's platform is designed with scalability in mind, capable of supporting organizations from small teams to large enterprises. The cloud-native architecture ensures that data storage, processing, and collaboration grow seamlessly. The platform also utilizes field-gathering tools on smartphones and tablets, enabling users to keep data current throughout a project's lifecycle."We've prioritized data interoperability and offer integrations with most commonly used data formats," Magnusson notes, emphasizing Clirio's ability to seamlessly integrate into clients' existing spatial data workflows. The platform supports various GIS systems, subsurface information, CAD platforms, and data formats, providing a comprehensive view of both above-surface and below-surface data.Customization and diverse applicationsClirio's platform is also highly customizable, allowing users to tailor it to their specific industries and use cases.Magnusson illustrates the platform's versatility: "Large-scale infrastructure engineering and construction projects can utilize geo hazard mapping and annotation tools. Archeologists could use it for digital preservation and virtual tours of excavation sites. Natural resource industries can adapt the platform for pipeline monitoring and environmental impact assessments," and even "Mining operators can collect geo-referenced 3D scans of changing conditions on site to provide safety briefings for workers that are just arriving on-site".Business model and financialsClirio operates on a subscription-based SaaS model, with pricing tiers based on usage volume and organizational size.Small teams can have access to affordable plans with limited user seats and digital workspaces. "Our tiered plans include a free tier where a user has access to one workspace. There's the pro tier for $49 US per month, and then there's a premium tier for $89 US per month". For larger clients, enterprise plans offer unlimited access and custom feature development.Clirio's annual recurring revenue is approximately CA$400,000, with CA$350,000 from services and CA$50,000 from the product side. The company's current burn rate is about CA$42,000 per month.Future roadmap and expansionClirio's future roadmap includes integrating AI to analyze geospatial data and provide actionable recommendations. The company also plans to add more data integrations and enhance its 3D annotation and design tools.Magnusson said it is also focused on expanding its hardware compatibility and establishing strategic partnerships in regions like Taiwan. He highlighted the company's interest in partnering with AI data analytics firms, display hardware manufacturers, and supporting Taiwan's infrastructure development.Looking ahead, Magnusson envisions Clirio continuing to grow its feature set based on user feedback and expanding its reach through joint ventures and strategic partnerships. "Really it is about continuing to grow our feature set based on, on what our users are telling us that is, that is critical for their types of work," Magnusson states. Ultimately, Clirio's vision is to support companies in making better-informed decisions on their projects, ensuring the best outcome for everyone involved.