Semiconductors are the core technology behind virtually every existing modern technology. Whether for processing information, powering displays, managing power, or any other functions; semiconductors play a role in every function of an electric/ electronic device.

According to Deloitte, the global semiconductor industry is forecasted to reach USD 588 billion in 2024, a 13% increase compared to 2023’s value of USD 520 billion. Emerging tech applications, especially generative AI (GenAI), are considered as the main driving force behind this growth as they require dedicated GPUs, CPUs, HBM3 in advanced 2.5D packaging, plus other special chips needed for connectivity in the data center. While the value of AI chips is predicted to contribute approximately 8.5% of the overall chips value at USD 50 billion, by 2027, they are expected to be the main contributing segment and contribute over USD 400 billion to the market.

Currently over 75% of the global semiconductor fab capacity focused in Asia, especially Taiwan whose semiconductor output is expected to exceed USD 155 billion in 2024 which is 26.36% of the global output. In addition, Taiwan also produces approximately 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors.

Taiwan’s position as a key semiconductor manufacturing powerhouse has become increasingly vital for the world’s ICT supply chain. As the world increasingly relies on semiconductors, this valuable market segment becomes an opportunity for various innovative teams and researchers from all walks of life who aim to create ground breaking products and solutions. To leverage Taiwan's semiconductor expertise by integrating chips with critical innovations, Taiwanese government ministries launched a collaborative effort named the Taiwan Chip-based Industrial Innovation Program (Taiwan CbI).

One of the main programs under this initiative is the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge, which was started by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to bolster Taiwan's IC startup ecosystem and attract global tech talent and investment. The IC Taiwan Grand Challenge is open to startups, university teams, and individual entries that focus on IC design innovations and chip-based innovative applications.

Winners of the competition will receive a USD 30,000 cash prize to help the winners kick off their efforts in collaborating with Taiwan's local industries, as well as other additional rewards, which may include review and mentoring by industry experts, IC Startup Accelerating Platform, and business development resources in Taiwan. Held in multiple batches, the winners of the First Batch of ICTGC were announced on September 10, 2024, which includes teams from Taiwan, the US, and the UK, all of whom contribute to IC applications in various industries with their innovations.

How the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge Promotes Innovation

The IC Taiwan Grand Challenge focuses on Smart Data and AI, Smart Mobility, Smart Manufacturing, Smart Medtech, and Sustainability. The First Batch winners featured teams developing unique technologies for the fields of Smart Data & AI, Smart Mobility, Smart Manufacturing, and Sustainability. As part of their winning rewards, the teams were also featured in the 2024 Taiwan Innotech Expo where they were awarded in the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge Unveil event.

Quinas Technology, a multi-award-winning spin-out from the Physics Department of Lancaster University in the UK, is the winner in the Smart Data & AI category. Quinas Technology introduced ULTRARAM, an energy-efficient universal memory with a unique, innovative, and highly disruptive approach. Ultraram can significantly contribute to the development of Smart Data and AI by addressing key challenges related to data storage, speed, and energy efficiency.

The winners in the Smart Mobility category are Galaverse and Ranictek. Galaverse utilizes radio frequency for sensing applications, which is vital for smart mobility. Their innovation can be utilized for next-generation applications such as detection, surveillance, applications in robotics, automobiles, and AI integration, which can boost noise reduction and signal boosting at a competitive price. Ranictek provides chip solutions for Open-RAN base station in order to provide energy saving and cost-effective solution for base station operators. Their innovation we can provide about 30 – 60% power saving for 5G base stations compared to the traditional 4G base stations and also extend the battery life of cellphones up to 2x.

The winner in the Smart Manufacturing category, Newsight Imaging’s sensors deliver precise 2D and 3D data, allowing robots to operate with a higher level of accuracy. They ensure safer operations by detecting potential hazards, issuing alerts, and taking preventive actions when needed. Their sensors also support quality assurance processes by detecting defects or anomalies

The winners of the Sustainability category are Polaris and Voltraware. Developing next-generation photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for high-speed optical data transmission, Polaris enables higher speed data transfer. Their innovation is necessary to reconfigure / disaggregate hyperscale datacenters, which enables 2x-4x energy efficiency improvements for the same workload today, which reduces approximately USD 100 billion in electricity and hundreds of millions of tons of CO2 emission annually. Voltraware aims to revolutionize charging methods and ushering the era of wireless charging and introduce wireless charging for shared e-micro mobility vehicles. It minimizes the need for large-capacity batteries and spares for replacement, which lowers carbon emission.

Taiwan's Unique Position Helps Promote Global Semiconductor Innovations

Taiwan is currently home to various industry leading semiconductor companies, making it vital in the supply of higher specification chips for next-generation technologies such as 5G, GenAI and high-performance computing (HPC). Taiwan also has a high concentration of semiconductor facilities and expertise that make it a crucial partner for technology companies. According to PwC, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry currently consists of 256 fabless IC design companies, 15 semiconductor manufacturers and 36 packaging and testing houses which is expected to hire approximately 320,000 people.

Taiwan has cultivated semiconductor expertise over 5 decades and the winners of the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge will have the opportunity to directly engage with Taiwan’s valuable semiconductor ecosystem; including the various potential partners, resources, and experts. For example, Ranictek aims to establish partnerships with IC manufacturers in addition to funding resources, network partners, and other resources that can help startups grow in Taiwan. “We are an IC design company so partnerships with IC manufacturers like TSMC is crucial for us. Taiwan also has a very strong semiconductor ecosystem, which is beneficial for us.” Shared Founder & CEO Mike Wang, CEO of Ranictek

With teams in Australia, the US, Singapore, etc. Galaverse sees the international partnerships made possible by Taiwan as among the main advantages provided by Taiwan, in addition to the conducive ecosystem and productivity. “Taiwan is the place for IC integration and manufacturing. Our plan is to have Taiwan as the foundation for the implementation of the technology that we can provide.” Said Justin King, Director of the board of Galaverse

Focusing on developing groundbreaking memory technologies, Quinas believes that Taiwan’s rich ecosystem of technological development, particularly in hardware manufacturing and semiconductor innovation, is a strong asset. “Access to these resources, combined with strong governmental support for tech startups and R&D will significantly benefit us. Additionally, the collaborative spirit among Taiwanese and international companies fosters a nurturing environment for partnerships, knowledge exchange, and scaling innovative solutions across global markets.” Said James Ashforth-Pook, Co-Founder & CEO of Quinas Technology.

Currently, in the promotion phase, Voltraware is actively looking for suitable applications that will allow it to expand. “Taiwan is known for its innovation and fast-paced industrial environment, and local system integrators generally show great interest in adopting new technologies. Taiwan's talent pool, with its deep experience in system design and automated control, is the key to helping us push the boundaries of wireless charging technology and ensuring us constantly remain competitive in the global market.” Said William Hsu, Senior Director of Voltraware.

Polaris Electro-Optics focuses on developing high-efficiency, energy-saving photonic products and has rapidly become a leader in the field of silicon photonics modulators. “The CM (contract manufacturing) and OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) offerings in Taiwan are definitely among the best, and world-class silicon foundry services could easily end up being the most beneficial for us.” Said Jason Sickler, CEO of Polaris Electron-Optics.

IC Taiwan Grand Challenge Batch 2 Open for Registration

The IC Taiwan Grand Challenge is an initiative started by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to bolster Taiwan's IC startup ecosystem and attract global tech talent and investment. The IC Taiwan Grand Challenge competition seeks out talented global tech startups to join the dynamic and competitive semiconductor industry. It is open for startups, university teams, and individual entries who focus on IC design innovations, chip-based innovative applications as well as system integration. Special attention is given to applicants in Smart Data & AI, Smart Mobility, Smart Manufacturing, Smart Medtech, and Sustainability.

The winners will receive USD 30,000 cash prize to help them kick off their efforts in collaborating with Taiwan's local industries; mentoring programs by various experts from Taiwan’s world-famous semiconductor industry; Platform to Production support to take their vision from prototyping to production; and Resources & Services from key stakeholders of Taiwan's overall startup ecosystem to support winners of the challenge to ensure their success in Taiwan.

Held in a multi-batch format, registration for the second batch of the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge started on September 4, 2024, and interested teams planning to collaborate with Taiwan's semiconductor industry can register now.

Sign up here:
>>> https://ictaiwanchallenge.org/