As one of the main manufacturing hubs of Taiwan, companies in southern Taiwan have diverse needs and requirements for their digital transformation efforts. To help match the companies within this vital area with potential partners that can provide the required solutions and innovations, the Asia Silicon Valley-Major League IoT, COMPUTEX, and InnoVEX organized the Smart Innovation Forum with Taipei Computer Association (TCA), Taiwan IOT Technology and Industry Association (TwIoTA), Taiwan Advanced Automotive Technology Development Association (TADA), Taiwan Glora Alliance (GloRa), and Metaverse Application Alliance as co-organizers.
Held during the Smart City Summit & EXPO (SCSE) Kaohsiung 2023, was joined by visitors representing various industries in Southern Taiwan as well as experts focusing on the innovation and entrepreneurship of 2 major trends: Metaverse and Smart Mobility. The forum discussed new directions for the industry and academia, as well as potential for partnerships especially in Metaverse applications. Driven by cutting edge AI technologies such as ChatGPT and GPT-4, Metaverse applications in various fields have gained widespread enthusiasm and creates new opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs to explore cross-industry businesses.
Metaverse and Smart Mobility are Key Technologies for Key Digital Transformation Trends
In his opening remarks, the CAO of the Asia Silicon Valley Development Agency (ASVDA), Paul Lee stated that the research firm McKinsey has estimated that by 2030, metaverse related technologies will have created a value of USD 4 to 5 trillion in both professional and personal applications. Currently, the generated value is estimated at USD 200 to 300 billion; mostly from applications in education, retail, manufacturing, and other industries; as well as an important key technology for industrial digital transformation.
Mr. Lee further shared that to achieve Taiwan’s 2050 Net-Zero Transition goal, the Taiwanese government has enacted the Climate Change Response Act on February 15 of this year. The Act incorporates the 2050 Net-Zero Transition goal to further improve the level of climate governance and to demonstrate Taiwan’s determination to achieve Net-Zero within that time frame. The strategy to achieve this goal is encapsulated in the 12 Key Strategies which also includes Carbon-Free and Electric Vehicles. The 12 Key Strategies also outlined the plans to develop and promote every segment of the EV supply chain as well as to integrate technology research, development, and construction of infrastructure such as the energy storage, charging stations, and building key safety features.
As this is already an established government policy, the budget for its implementation is already prepared. With these preparations already in place, companies can launch their smart mobility and smart city solutions that follow the net-zero mindset. For businesses, the net-zero goals have enabled new business opportunities that are both realistic and achievable.
The continuous developments of innovative AI applications such as ChatGPT and other various generative AIs will accelerate the development of digital technology industries such as metaverse or smart mobility. For industries, it is important to not only be users of the emerging smart AI applications, but also participants and promoters of industrial development. ASVDA aims to promote the innovation and entrepreneurship of the IoT industry. Their role also includes assisting in the integration of resources to create an industrial ecosystem that promotes the development of digital smart technologies; including metaverse and smart mobility.
Taiwan’s Core Metaverse Opportunities Lie in Hardware
Dr. Lewis Liu, Division Director of the Smart Vision Group at ITRI shared that development trends and future opportunities in metaverse have become the basis for many white papers for metaverse industrial policies around the world. The core metaverse opportunities for Taiwan’s ICT industry lie in hardware with solutions and vertical domain applications to supplement this strategic advantage.
He further stated that metaverse services can overcome time and space limitations including through applications in remote collaboration, virtual factory, design & development, assembly & maintenance, and sales assistance. It is estimated that 30% of the world’s industries feature a metaverse application by 2026. Kaohsiung can become the hub of metaverse development as the city has a comprehensive ecosystem including legal experts, technology experts, manufacturers, as well as vertical domain and talents through universities.
As long as government resources and supporting facilities continue to invest and assist in the establishment of the basic ecosystem, technology & services, and to accelerate the technological evolution from AR/VR to AR/VR+AI. With hardware as the main component and supplemented by the solutions and vertical domain applications, Kaohsiung can implement and accelerate industrial developments in Metaverse applications and services.
Mr. James Wang, Chief Strategy & Sales Officer of eYs3D Microelectronics Corp. stated that metaverse is an interoperable internet architecture that integrates the real world with the virtual world. As a result, metaverse applications will significantly increase the amount of digital transmissions to ensure a smooth operation, mainly in data, network, and equipment while putting pressure on the AR computing chip.
To improve the metaverse hardware computing efficiency, it is necessary to integrate chips with different functions on a single chip through Heterogeneous Integration in the semiconductor chip design. Heterogeneous Integration will effectively improve the data transmission interface efficiency, solving the problems of large data memory interface transmission generated in real-time in AR computing. By providing high-speed computing capabilities through various technologies including AI, audio processing, and image conversion; it is possible to design wireless low-power AR headset which is a key hardware for metaverse applications.
Mr. Wen Lung Liang, Chairman of Jorjin Technologies analyzed metaverse from the perspective of the evolution of man-machine interface. AR/VR hardware can be considered as the new generation of human-computer interface (HCI) and when integrated with AI, ChatGPT, virtual digital tools, blockchain, NFTs, and 5G/6G infrastructure; it is possible to accelerate the advent of the metaverse era. It is expected that people will replace their screen time on mobile phones and PCs with more time in the metaverse. As AR and VR will be the key to the metaverse, large companies may engage in digital colonization to assert dominance in the new digital world.
Ms. Coco Yang, General Manager of ARPlanets Technology shared the actual use cases of metaverse and XR applications in various industries including in manufacturing, transportation, tourism, education, and more. For example, with the AR, LBS (location-based services), and AI integration; it is possible to solve the pain points of inaccurate GPS positioning and create a better AR navigation UX. As the southern part of Taiwan is one of the manufacturing hubs of Taiwan, XR can be used for SOP training and VR can be used for equipment training; which has been implemented by the Taiwan Power Company. As Taiwan’s national power company, Taiwan Power Company has utilized VR to effectively improve personnel training and execution efficiency.
During the panel discussion, many of the speakers mentioned that the key to success for Taiwan’s companies is not only the metaverse hardware supply chain. Government assistance in introducing practical industrial applications is equally important. When combined with emerging AI applications such as ChatGPT and GPT-4, it is possible to open up new opportunities for startup developments and innovations while lowering the technology barrier for developing innovative metaverse applications.
Smart Mobility enabled Mobility as a Service (MaaS) will be the Key to Enabling Net Zero Smart Cities
In the smart mobility segment of the Smart Innovation Forum, Hubert Chen, the Chairman of Turing Drive stated that Autonomous Mobility as a Service (AutonoMaaS) will be the trend for low-speed transportation in the future. Autonomous driving can be applied in various urban mobility scenarios, including for transporting motorists in the parking lot, fixed-line bus, transportation in a port area, and more. The main trend for the future seems to lean towards Mobility as a Service (MaaS) that integrates public transportation and personal transportation.
With continued urbanization and stable if not increasing smartphone penetration, the need for smart public transportation can be realized by combining smart phones or smart communication devices with smart city architectures that can create a total solution. Autonomous driving and shared low-speed transportation can effectively provide last-mile transportation for the public and Taiwan’s smart driving applications has been field verified.
Vincent Shih, the Director of eTreego’s PM. Division stated that the demand for electric vehicles has so far been largely unaffected by the pandemic. The global sales of electric vehicles in 2022 was expected to exceed 8 million units with an annual growth of 70% and is expected to constitute 10% of the new vehicles sold for the first time. Taiwan’s 2050 Net Zero Transition goals also serves as a time-table for the automotive industry to electrify which in turn drives the rapid development of EV charging equipment.
Currently governments around the world, including Taiwan are building more charging infrastructure for EV charging, especially as a public utility. It is estimated that a large number of charging stations will be built in Taiwan as a joint project between central and local government, with the total number of slow chargers and fast chargers to reach 6500 units when the project is completed. Charging specifications have also been streamlined. In Taiwan, the AC chargers will follow the SAE J1772 standards as the standard specifications while the DC fast charger will follow the CCS1 (1+N) standard. The charger communication standards will also be streamlined to be compatible with CAN BUS and PLC.
As EV management will need to be fully smart, it is also important to consider how the future charging stations will work with the electric grid to send power through integrated applications/ platform. For example, through a cloud-based charging management platform for serial connection. This method will be able to improve the overall energy management efficiency.
Green energy and sustainability are the core of a smart city. Kenny Yu, the President of Acer ITS stated that based the implementation of the Smart Parking Meter solutions; it is important to understand that “an electronic payment system is the first step in developing people-oriented smart transportation”. In this context, a people-oriented smart transportation needs to aim to solve people’s pain points; whether as a public or private transportation regardless of the user. Key pain points such as congesting, carbon emission, and parking fee payment can be solved through intelligent, automated, and paperless smart roadside parking services.
By implementing AI capable of vehicle identification, object identification, and route tracking, it is possible to effectively solve various paint points encountered in roadside parking. The solution can also be extended to smart parking and EV charging services so that the public can benefit from a more convenient and sustainable EV service.
In the panel discussion, Pao-Chung Ho, Technology Director & Consultant at Taipei Computer Association along with the participating speakers shared how Taiwanese manufacturers plan to leverage smart mobility integrated applications to create new business opportunities. They also pointed out that policy directions that follow Taiwan’s 2050 Net-Zero Transition goals can assist the industry to accelerate the landing and verification of smart mobility solutions which can further help them expand to the international market.
About InnoVEX
To promote innovative solutions by global talents, Taipei Computer Association (TCA) introduced InnoVEX in 2016. As the startup focused event of COMPUTEX, InnoVEX aims to connect startups with global leading ICT companies and help accelerate startups’ growth and connect them with potential investors, buyers, and media.
For international startups, InnoVEX can be the gateway to unlocking Asia’s strong manufacturing capabilities and high-tech hubs. InnoVEX has become an ecosystem where startups can not only exhibit; but also match with global VCs, CVCs, manufacturing partners, buyers, and media. For more details, please visit the official InnoVEX website at
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