Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor company Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) is taking a fresh stab at the power component landscape, challenging the longstanding silicon hegemony. The US-based firm recently made headlines due to its ongoing patent battle with China-based GaN leader, Innoscience.

Indian digital services and solutions provider Coforge is set to embed generative and other AI forms into its core operations. The recent introduction of 'Coforge Quasar,' a generative AI platform, underscores the company's interest in advancing enterprise AI capabilities. Notably, Quasar boasts an impressive suite of over 100 pre-integrated APIs ready for deployment.

Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, professor and Edgar L. and Harold H. Buttner Chair of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of California, Berkeley, sat down to an exclusive interview with DIGITIMES Asia at the sidelines of SEMICON Taiwan 2023 on September 8. As a legend who created two of the world's most prominent electronic design automation (EDA) companies and who has accumulated decades of knowledge and experience in the semiconductor industry, Professor Sangiovanni-Vincentelli shed light on how far generative AI can go as a tool to advance the semiconductor industry. He also shared his thoughts on the solution of geopolitical tensions surrounding the semiconductor supply chain. Here is part one of the interview:

In a recent interview with DIGITIMES Asia, Fujitsu Executive Director of Strategic Alliance Unit Taisuke Iwai finds digital annealing is the game changer in the field of quantum computing.

In Part 1, Gallagher mentioned that it will take two to three quarters to address the supply chain inventory issues. However, new challenges like geopolitics and supply chain/market regionalization are also just beginning. Who will be the one to emerge in this next generation? During the conversation between Avnet CEO Phil Gallagher and DIGITIMES founder Colley Hwang, they offered a basic direction for thought.

Light electric vehicles are rising in Asia. Canadian startup Zen Energy sees the opportunity and has developed batteries with quadruple lifetime for two and three-wheelers. The company has chosen India as a launchpad to expand its business in Asia.

In 2023, the world went through a "major shortage" in the semiconductor industry chain. However, though the economic situation quickly corrected, uncertainties such as inflation and interest rate hikes meant that end-user demand for consumer electronics remained sluggish.

Quantum computing, often considered the next frontier in computing technology, has garnered immense attention in recent years. While giants like Google and IBM have made significant strides in the field, another player, IonQ, is making waves with its unique ion trap approach to quantum computing.

As the demand for EVs in India continues to rise, so does the need for batteries. At the moment, lithium-ion batteries are the primary roadblock in India's efforts to be self-sufficient in the EV sphere. Although the country has identified some lithium reserves, extracting them remains a distant goal.

In line with India's current ambitions to develop a semiconductor ecosystem in the country, many global companies have been increasing investments and expanding presence here. Recently, AMD announced plans to set up its largest design center in the South Indian city, Bangalore. Intel has also underscored India's rapid growth as a once-in-a-generation occurrence.

India's engineering solutions providers have been quick to capitalize on the recent global interest in electric vehicles. One of the key players in this field is Tata Elxsi, which stands as a leading entity in delivering engineering solutions within the automotive industry with strategic partnerships and initiatives.

Driver monitoring has become a critical focus of automotive safety systems as distracted driving remains the primary cause of car accidents. Israel-based Cipia develops driver-monitoring systems enabled by computer vision AI. The company has gained a presence in China, poised to scale up in the US and Europe.

Applications such as electric vehicles and energy storage have gradually seen material demands. However, whether the two applications can be operated safely and effectively depends on the battery. Many industry leaders in Taiwan have been investing in those fields or cross-domain developments for many years. Among them, Taiwan startup XING Mobility has not only written a new chapter for battery cooling technology but also successfully found a new breakthrough for Taiwan manufacturers in the international market competition.

Semiconductor companies have long been trading secondhand semiconductor equipment, but geopolitical tension and government policies have stimulated the demand so significantly that people are seeing a void to fill.

On July 28th, Friday, at the Company Venture in New York City, the North America Taiwanese Engineering & Science Association (NATEA) NY team hosted a thought-provoking startup talk event, centered around the theme of "Becoming an Entrepreneur". The entrepreneurial journey is often a daring leap from the familiar world of corporate jobs to the uncertain territory of startups. Throughout the talk, industry experts generously shared their invaluable experiences, challenges, and expert advice for those aspiring to make this transformation. Covering a wide array of topics, from finding the right co-founder to understanding the industry and securing venture capital funding, the event provided a treasure trove of insights for budding entrepreneurs.