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

iCometrue received enthusiastic responses following its show at SEMICON TAIWAN 2023. Some companies have expressed great interest in iCometrue's Logic Drive and Field Programmable Multi-Chip Package (FPMCP) and approached iCometrue for further discussion.iCometrue is making every effort to bring Logic Drive to reality. As the costly non-recurring engineering (NRE) and time-consuming process put up a high barrier preventing IC designers' access to sub-10-nm fabrication technologies, iCometrue proposed the concept of Logic Drive in 2016, to create a Public Innovation Platform that enables 99% of the common public to participate in cutting-edge technology available to the wealthy 1%.Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chips manufactured on sub-10-nm nodes are suitable for realizing Logic Drive. With 10 nm and more advanced processes, tens of billions of transistors and more than 15 metal layers can be placed on a silicon chip, and the power supply voltage can be scaled down to 0.7V. By packaging one or more standard commodity FPGA chiplets using advanced packaging technology, such as TSMC's CoWoS or InFO or Intel's EMIB, and pairing it with a non-volatile memory (NVM) chip (for example, a flash memory chip) to store the FPGA configuration data, the Logic Drive is made into a non-volatile field-programmable standard commodity, which can be mass commercialized as an ASIC chip after configuration.Whether iCometrue's Logic Drive will become a reality hinges on FPGA standardization. If FPGA becomes a standard commodity like DRAM, the cost will significantly decline. For FPGA standardization, iCometrue proposes retaining the programmable circuits of the FPGA while removing the I/O circuits and control circuits to form new chips, namely, an I/O chip and a control chip, which are also packaged in the same Logic Drive. This way, most of the area of the FPGA chip is used for the arrays of logic cells (logic block array), similar to the layout of DRAM cell arrays (memory block array). Standard specifications should be established for the FPGA chip size, the circuits, and quantity of logic cells, as well as the I/O layout, quantity, electrical properties, and functions (including driving capability and impedance as well as inter-chip communication). iCometrue chairman Dr. M. S. Lin urges that it's time to standardize FPGA!With FPGA standardization, most of the area of the FPGA chip is used for the arrays of logic cells (logic block array), similar to the layout of DRAM cell arrays (memory block array).Photo: iCometrueiCometrue is also cooperating with partners to develop FPMCP, wherein an FPGA chip and NVM chip are added to a multi-chip package (MCP) comprising CPU, GPU, ASIC, and/or SOC. Through configuring or re-configuring the FPGA chip, the MCP becomes field-programmable, and with the NVM chip to store the FPGA configuration data, the FPMCP becomes non-volatile and field-programmable.iCometrue is working on an FPGA/NVM package unit that packages an FPGA chip together with an NVM chip for use in a customer's MCP. It is also seeking partners interested in applying the FPGA/NVM package unit to practical applications.Through configuring or re-configuring the FPGA chip, the MCP becomes an FPMCP and with the NVM chip to store the FPGA configuration data, the FPMCP becomes non-volatile field-programmable.Photo: iCometrueLast but not least, also in the spotlight at SEMICON TAIWAN was Dr. Lin's book, Moore's Journey –The Magical Power of Big Numbers. Giving an in-depth look into the past and present of semiconductors and Moore's Law, the much-raved-about book has inspired and benefited a great many readers.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a common physiological monitoring device used in medicine. However, conventional ECGs must be operated by medical professionals and are monotonous and time-consuming to use. The PCA 500 developed by QT Medical, a company based in the United States, is a medical-grade 12-lead ECG system that is easy to use and can be operated by a layperson following simple instructions. The entire process takes no more than a minute. The recorded data is sent to the backend via a mobile device and is available to the physician in the cloud for case management and telemonitoring. In terms of accuracy, the device has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and clinical trials have proven that its performance is on par with high-end resting ECGs in terms of accuracy.Jackal Chen, senior vice president of QT Medical, pointed out that cardiovascular diseases pose a major threat to human health, with a mortality rate even higher than that of cancer. Fast and affordable, 12-lead ECGs have long been used for preliminary diagnosis and disease classification. According to the medical guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association (AHA), the performance of a 12-lead ECG is recommended when an individual experiences chest pain or tightness. Although these common symptoms may seem harmless, they are often the sign of heart disease. A 12-lead ECG provides an initial screening of heart conditions and helps the physician make a diagnosis.However, as the 12-lead ECG machines are located in hospitals and an ECG screening is usually only part of a complete medical examination, the test must be performed in a hospital. This time-consuming and inconvenient medical procedure often discourages people from being examined and reduces the chances of patients receiving the necessary treatment. In response to this issue, the PCA 500, a medical-grade 12-lead ECG system from QT Medical, was developed specifically to address this problem. According to Jackal Chen, QT Medical's team is committed to making 12-lead ECG devices and services more accessible and user-friendly in small- and medium-sized clinics, community centers, private homes, and even public places. The company wants its product placed similarly to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) commonly found on the street to enable the rapid proliferation of hospital-grade ECG services.The PCA 500, a medical-grade 12-lead ECG system from QT Medical, stands out for its simplicity. The device consists of a patented one-piece electrode sensor and an ECG recorder, coupled with a mobile app and a cloud-based platform. Users only need to follow the visual instructions and attach the patented ECG electrode sensor to their body. The device then automatically measures the data and it wirelessly to the cloud platform via the app. Finally, the data and preliminary interpretation reports are received by the physician for evaluation.On the whole, the medical-grade 12-lead ECG devices from QT Medical are handy, hygienic, efficient, accurate, and of high quality. The intuitive design of the system makes it easy for an average person or patient to use it comfortably and without special training, while achieving the same accuracy as a standard hospital ECG machine. The compact design and patented one-piece disposable strips effectively reduce the risk of disease transmission through direct contact and avoid the risk of misalignment and misdiagnosis associated with the complicated lead wire placement of traditional ECG devices. This ensures convenience and data accuracy, as well as drastically minimizes the time required for the procedure. All ECG data is encrypted and transmitted securely to the HIPAA- and GDPR-compliant cloud-based management system, which enables real-time case management and provides reports in PDF format for easy aggregation and analysis.Jackal Chen further explained that the development of the product is technically difficult, as the shape of the strips, their position, and the software design need to be fine-tuned in a series of clinical trials to obtain accurate data swiftly. In addition, once completed, the product must undergo rigorous testing and certification to prove its safety and efficacy. Currently, the PCA 500 medical-grade 12-lead ECG system is being used in clinical trials in a variety of different settings and applications. In addition, QT Medical has developed various business models to accommodate the laws and cultures of different countries. In the vast United States, for example, the company works with health facilities to deliver the devices and test strips to patients by mail. Patients operate the device themselves and the data is automatically sent to the cloud-based platform for physicians to analyze. The company is also working with prison authorities in the United States, where the devices are operated by prison staff to address the shortage of medical staff in prisons. As for the Taiwanese market, the device is not only used in hospitals but also in ambulances and telemedicine. Patients can test themselves at home or in a community center and enjoy the benefits of telemedicine and mobile healthcare within the established healthcare system.Since its market launch, the PCA 500 medical-grade 12-lead ECG system has garnered praise in the healthcare industry. In addition to being innovative and practical, solving many of today's medical challenges, Jackal Chen believes that the startup ecosystem in Taiwan and the support from relevant institutions have also contributed greatly to the company's successful growth.Jackal Chen pointed out that the Taiwan branch of QT Medical was established in 2015. Over the past 8 years, an increasingly dynamic startup ecosystem has developed in Taiwan. The policy resources of government agencies and the expertise of business accelerators have also grown rapidly. These resources and policies have been extremely helpful for startups to gain access to the market. The Taiwan Tech Arena, for example, has brought several startups to visit Japanese business leaders and medical institutions. Institutional support has improved the startup teams' standing in dialogue with the other side, allowing for more comprehensive and smoother communication. As a result, new communication channels have been created, opening up the local market.Going forward, QT Medical aims to optimize its products further and expedite product marketing efforts. In the near future, the company will focus on the markets of developed countries and actively collaborate with various agencies to expand the application potential of its products, realizing the vision of mobile healthcare and telemedicine.QT Medical’s PCA 500 is the world’s most portable medical-grade 12-lead ECG system. The patented ECG electrode strips are FDA-approved and can be handled by non-professionals, opening new possibilities for telemedicine applications and cardiac screening.Photo: QT Medical

Rugged embedded computer brand – Cincoze is actively responding to the innovation and diversification of industrial applications caused by the rapid development of AI technology and sees performance increases as the key to supporting this trend. In 2023, Cincoze launched a series of Intel Alder Lake-based industrial computers, including compact models and highly scalable models, embedded computers, and panel PCs, all designed with product features explicitly selected to meet the needs of AI edge computing. In 2024, Cincoze will continue to launch more high-performance industrial computers and GPU computers equipped with Alder Lake CPUs, providing customers with industrial computer options for various industrial applications.Compact and Feature-rich Railway Computer – DX-1200The DX-1200 is equipped with Intel's 12th generation Alder Lake-S processor and supports up to DDR5 64GB 4800 MHz memory with ECC. The compact size DX-1200 features rich I/O with high-speed I/O of up to 4x USB3.2 Gen2x1 and 4x 10 GbE LAN or 12x 1 GbE LAN. Cincoze's exclusive modular expansion allows for the addition of PoE or IGN functions. The DX-1200 is also equipped with an M.2 Key E slot and a Mini PCIe slot, which can support wireless transmission methods such as WiFi, 4G, and Bluetooth. Safety-wise, the DX-1200 maintains Cincoze's wide temperature, wide voltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, and ESD protection. It also complies with the US military shock standard MIL-STD-810G and UL / cUL / EN / IEC / CB 62368-1 safety certification to ensure stability and safety in harsh environments. As a railway computing designated model, the DX-1200 has also passed the EN 50121-3-2 EMC and EN 45545-2 fire protection standards in EN 50155 for railway computing applications.Ultimate Performance and PCIe Expansion for Smart Manufacturing – DS-1400 SeriesThe DS-1400 series is equipped with Intel's 12th generation Alder Lake-S processor with 16 cores (8P + 8E) and supports up to DDR5 64GB 4800MHz of memory with ECC. The DS-1401 and DS-1402 have one and two PCI/PCIe expansion slots, respectively, supporting an expansion card with a maximum power of 110W and a size of 111mm x 235mm. Through Cincoze's exclusive patented PCIe card fixing bracket (Patent No. I773359), the expansion card can be securely locked in place so it will not come loose, even when operating in an environment that requires continuous vibration. The DS-1400 series also inherits Cincoze's rugged features, such as wide temperature (-40 to 70°C), wide voltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, and ESD protection. The DS-1400 complies with the US military shock standard MIL-STD-810G and UL / cUL / EN / IEC / CB 62368-1 safety certification, making it the preferred model for edge computing in smart manufacturing.Slim Body Design as Standalone or Panel PC – P2202 SeriesThe P2202 series includes the slim body P2202 and the PCIe expansion capable P2202E, both are equipped with an Intel Alder Lake-P (U-Series) i3/i5 processor and up to 64GB of DDR5 4800 MHz memory. The biggest highlight of the P2202 series is that they can be used as standalone embedded computers or, through Cincoze's CDS technology, be converted to panel PCs. Cincoze's exclusive CDS patented technology (Convertible Display System, Patent No. M482908) enables the addition of a convertible display module (multiple models available) to make a panel PC suitable for various application environments, such as an industrial panel PC (CV/P2202) for general industrial environments, a high brightness sunlight-readable panel PC (CS/P2202) for outdoor use, or an open frame panel PC (CO/P2202) that integrates perfectly in machine equipment. The P2202 series computers are often used in control cabinets, so they have undergone a variety of vibration and shock reliability tests, such as sine vibration (1G), random vibration (5G), and shock resistance (50G). They have also passed industrial EMC tests (EN 61000-6-2 and EN 61000-6-4).

iCatch Technology, an international leading IC design company focusing on intelligent image processing SoC development for automotive applications, in order to ensure the cybersecurity of its SoC chip design, has recently obtained the ISO/SAE 21434 cybersecurity design flow certification and has been awarded a certificate. This standard can ensure the cybersecurity of automotive electronic products when connected to internet applications and prevent the potential risks of cyberattack and data breach or leakage. After obtaining ISO 26262 automotive functional safety ASIL-D design flow certification, iCatch Technology further obtained ISO/SAE 21434 cybersecurity design flow certification. This enables iCatch Technology to provide global automotive customers with functional safety and cybersecurity combined solutions for intelligent image processing SoC products and to fulfill the application requirements of automotive OEM and Tier-1 customers.iCatch Technology recently passed the ISO/SAE 21434 standard design flow certification. The certificate was awarded from Mr. Jack Yeh, GM of Taiwan, TUV NORD (left) to Mr. Weber Hsu, GM of iCatch Technology (right) on Nov. 13, 2023Weber Hsu, GM of iCatch Technology said: "Automotive cybersecurity and data protection in vehicles is an urgent issue. To keep up with the pace of global automotive customers and make products comply with the requirements of international vehicle network security regulations, iCatch Technology invested a lot in the ISO/SAE 21434 cybersecurity design process modification and training while ISO 26262 functional safety certification training is also undergoing at the same time. This enables iCatch Technology to obtain the ISO/SAE 21434 standard certification just a few months behind the ASIL-D certification of ISO 26262. As a result, we can protect the software and data security of our intelligent image processing SoC platform in the future, prevent information leakage and breach, and build smart imaging application solutions that comply with international vehicle cybersecurity management regulations."The ISO/SAE 21434 vehicle cybersecurity standard is jointly developed and approved by the International Standard Organization (ISO) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for the networking security and protection of automotive electronic systems. This is related to the establishment of vehicle cybersecurity management requested by the European Union. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has proposed at the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations in April 2021 that when a new vehicle is launched for type approval, it needs to pass the certification of the "cybersecurity management system" and compliance with the R155 cybersecurity and R156 software updates for the vehicle. Adopting products developed by an ISO/SAE 21434 standard-certified vendor can ensure the technical solutions when applied to the vehicle is able to comply with vehicle cybersecurity management regulations.Following the ISO/SAE 21434 standard and based on the AEC-Q100 automotive quality qualification and Arm PSA platform security architecture of current intelligent imaging SoC products, iCatch Technology will develop a new hardware and software integrated solution with network data transmission protection and cybersecurity management capability. This can be further customized according to the customer's requirements and combined into the automotive smart image processing SoC application solutions. It can then help the OEM and Tier-1 customers to pass the cybersecurity regulation certification. In the future, iCatch Technology will also cooperate with the IATF 16949 automotive quality management system certified foundries and package and testing partners to develop and manufacture automotive smart image processing SoC products that support both ISO/SAE 21434 cybersecurity and ISO 26262 functional safety standardsWith the increasing degree of electronics and networking in vehicles, the risks of automotive cybersecurity are also increasing. While the users enjoy the convenience of network connection inside a vehicle, the protection of in-vehicle data security to prevent or manage potential risks has become a key issue that all in-vehicle electronic system solutions must face. By passing the ISO/SAE 21434 design process certification, iCatch Technology not only establishes the design and verification capability of cybersecurity management on the automotive chip platform but also builds an intelligent image processing SoC application solution that complies with vehicle data protection and cybersecurity management. This can meet the demands of automotive OEM and Tier-1 customers in cybersecurity and further comply with international vehicle data security management regulations.