Quantum leaps and smart living in the “green” island
Innovation Pilot Pavilion and highlighted exhibits at Taiwan Innotech Expo 2024
Like Asia Research News, the Taiwan Innotech Expo celebrates its 20th year in 2024. The expo serves as a platform for Taiwanese and international public, private, and academic institutions to showcase their research and development projects.
This year’s event was held from October 17-19 at the Taipei World Trade center. Over 400 exhibitors from 20 countries demonstrated how supercomputing, artificial intelligence, IoT, robotics, and other technologies can reshape not just industries but also our homes and lifestyles.
The expo had three main pavilions. Innovation Pilot Pavilion allowed visitors to experience how innovative devices and award-winning patented technology integrate into daily life. Future Tech (FUTEX) Pavilion lets visitors explore smart homes and AI. Sustainability Pavilion demonstrated methods for achieving net-zero, digital transformation, and circular economy.
New research and investment paths
Taiwan has made its name in the semiconductor industry and is well-positioned for the age of AI. It is now venturing into software to link advanced hardware to user-facing applications.
During the Opening Ceremony, Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-hue said the country “[needs] to catch up on and aim to improve the software sector.” The country also seeks to foster international collaboration by being an R&D hub and has launched the 2nd round of the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge to encourage researchers and start-ups from around the world.
The quantum tech panel discussion with (from left to right) Wen-Hao Chang, CEO of the Taiwan Quantum Program, Alain Aspect, 2022 Nobel Laureate for Physics and Prof. Jaw-Shen Tsai of Tokyo University of Science.
On the first day of the expo, the FUTEX pavilion also hosted the forum “From Research to Industry: The Path to Quantum Technology Implementation.”
Communication is key. In his welcome remarks, Minister Cheng-Wen Wu of the National Science and Technology Council emphasised the importance of being able to explain quantum technology to ordinary people so they know what it can solve, and expressed excitement for the future of a quantum tech industry.
A panel discussion moderated by Wen-Hao Chang, CEO of Taiwan’s Quantum Program, included Prof. Alain Aspect, 2022 Nobel laureate for Physics and Prof. Jaw-Shen Tsai from Tokyo University of Science. The topic was timely as this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to scientists who used physics in developing artificial neural networks. Prof Aspect gave the audience a walk-through of three major quantum research discoveries and the decades-long journey for them to become viable technologies.
Prof Tsai and founders of quantum technology start-ups from Europe also shared their experiences and views on making the leap from laboratory to industry.
Silicon Island: Smart and safe living through supercomputing and AI
AI took centre stage at the expo and was prevalent in most pavilions. Scientists who have sought to harness its potential in research, education, medicine, and transportation proudly presented their works.
Although generative AI has been part of public discourse the past year, the expo highlighted usage beyond content creation. Startups and universities with partner hospitals created custom algorithms for diagnosing stroke, bone and cardiovascular disease, kidney disease complications, diabetes, and dementia. Some applications focused on helping end users, for example, AI-supported apps to manage attention span and to clarify fake news online.
Prominent as well were GenAI booths for public research and communications. The National Science & Technology Centre for Disaster Reduction demonstrated their use of AI for visualising the effects of extreme weather and earthquakes for better impact assessment and public communication. Meanwhile, CityScope, a joint project of Taipei Tech and MIT Media Lab, developed a platform that uses AI digital citizens to guide urban studies and planning.
AI for communicating and visualising weather, cloud formation, lightning (left) and simulating citizen activities for planning and population studies (right).
Other AI-integrated inventions include robotics, agriculture, and energy safety and supply management.
AI robots: An AI social robot for smart homes (left) and AI robot dog for inspections from National Taiwan University (right).
Smart medical and biotechnology
A National Cheng-Kung University team demonstrated their automated platform that uses Janus particles for detecting bacteria and protein indicators of disease. National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University featured biomedical inventions such as injectable hydrogels and a wearable brainwave device for diagnosing ADHD and other neurological diseases.
Bead-based disease detector (left) and brainwave device (right)
Rehabilitation system with brain-machine interface
Various biotechnology equipment for rehabilitation and patient care were also demonstrated, along with app-assisted at-home tools for therapy. For example, a rehabilitation system for stroke patients by National Chung Hsing University combines brain-machine interface and an exoskeleton.
Green Island: Net-zero and circular economy
Sustainability goals remained a key theme for the expo. Building on previous research on hydrogen energy, the Industrial Technology Research Institute built a demonstration site for its production, storage, and use in residential and industrial settings. Stepping in to aid our natural carbon sinks, National Taiwan University showed their prototype of a high-performance CO2 converter.
Pineapples are one of Taiwan’s most well-known products, and researchers have continued developing a circular economy around it through agricultural waste recycling and innovative products like skincare and textiles.
CO2 converter (left) and automated pineapple waste recycling for textile products (right)
Other highlights
Taiwan firsts also had their space to shine, particularly Taiwan’s first university space centre at the National Central University. The team behind it anticipates the launch of their deep space radiation probe in mid-December.
Deep space radiation probe payload (left); first 2-cm thermal imaging metalens (right)
The institutions behind the platforms powering Taiwan’s R&D showcased their capabilities, notably the National Applied Research Laboratories and the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. Some booths allowed visitors to explore massive geospatial data through virtual reality and game-based interfaces.
The Invention Competition area exhibited nearly 600 inventions from both domestic and international participants from South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand. Engineering designs and innovative devices from Taiwan universities such as Kun Shan University, National Chung Hsing University, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, and National Chin-Yi University of Technology were on display.
With the expo being open to the public for free, visitors of all ages and backgrounds experienced technologies like virtual reality and high-speed 5G network, from educational and training modules to pure fun and entertainment. The Taiwan Patent Go Pavilion’s “Smart Living Room” included massage lounges and coffeemakers. Sports technology this year included an AI-supported training tool for badminton.
Virtual puppet theater (left) and formosa flower experience (right)
The expo was a good opportunity for the public to learn about the technologies that shape the future and to connect with scientists and experts. Likewise, it was an excellent way to witness how rewarding the arduous path of research can be – no matter how long it may take.
