NewPower Worldwide today announced it was recognized by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) at the HPE Operations Partner Summit 2026, receiving the Spares Supply Chain Partner of the Year Award for outstanding performance as a global supply chain partner.The award recognizes partners who deliver exceptional operational execution, responsiveness, and reliability in support of HPE's global supply chain customer base. NewPower Worldwide was selected for its ability to secure critical components, perform under pressure, and meet rigorous sourcing and fulfillment requirements in a rapidly changing market."We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our strong partnership with HPE and validates that our systems and processes are built to scale and adapt in the fast-paced market we serve together," said Carleton Dufoe, CEO of NewPower Worldwide.NewPower Worldwide supports complex global supply chains across OEMs, ODMs, and EMS providers through advanced component sourcing, inventory strategy, and risk?managed fulfillment. The company is known for executing under constraint, enabling continuity when availability is tight and conditions shift quickly. Its global operating model allows partners to respond faster, reduce exposure, and maintain performance across regions.The recognition was presented during the HPE Partner Summit 2026, which brings together top?performing partners to recognize excellence in operational performance, collaboration, and customer impact.
Taiwan Mobile today held a Mac launch event to announce that Mac products are now officially available. Centered around the theme "Small Bite. Big Possible.", Taiwan Mobile has integrated MacBook Neo, M5-powered MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, as well as Mac mini, becoming the first telecom operator in Taiwan to deliver a full-scale Apple ecosystem.Beyond the simultaneous launch across myfone retail stores, myfone online shop, customer service channels, enterprise divisions, and momo.com, Taiwan Mobile has introduced dedicated "Mac Experience Gateways" across 100 select myfone retail stores. These areas are supported by over 1,000 professionally trained AI Tech Consultants who provide hands-on demonstrations and personalized guidance nationwide.At the launch event, a live demonstration showcased Taiwan Mobile’s evolution from device sales to integrated experiences. The showcase highlighted both the cross-device Apple ecosystem experience and Taiwan Mobile's own advantages-5G hotspot sharing, home Wi-Fi broadband, diverse purchasing plans, and OP Tech Life services-illustrating how Taiwan Mobile delivers one-stop solutions across network, device, and content services, tailored to different user needs, empowering customers to maximize their digital productivity in the AI era.Tony Lin, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Taiwan Mobile, stated that as the "AI Inquiry Era" emerges, the challenge for consumers is no longer about choosing devices, but about how to effectively harness and integrate technology into everyday life. Through today's launch event demonstrations, Taiwan Mobile showed that retail stores are no longer just points of sale, but have evolved into integrated service hubs. myfone retail stores continue to strengthen their consultative service approach, upgrading into "Experience Gateways," where AI Tech Consultants guide users in understanding how devices connect and work together-bringing "Big Possible" to life.Tony Lin, Chief Business Officer at Taiwan Mobile, at the Mac Launch Event. Credit: Taiwan MobileLin further noted that Taiwan Mobile integrates 14 value-added services, including Apple One, streaming content, and cloud gaming. With select plans, customers will also receive a one-year free membership to the "GeForce NOW powered by Taiwan Mobile" Ultra Plan Hourly Subscription, enabling them to enjoy AAA titles on Mac and further expanding its entertainment and productivity value.Live from the Launch Event: 3 Real-Life Scenarios Across Students, Professionals, and CreatorsStudents: MacBook Neo at $0 - A Seamless Learning ExperienceThe first scenario demonstrates a student’s learning journey, from attending classes to reviewing course materials, addressing the challenge of fragmented information and inefficient organization. Through Taiwan Mobile's device plans, users can easily get started with the latest MacBook Neo and step into the Apple ecosystem. By using iPhone Air to capture whiteboard content and extract or translate key information, and iPad Air to take notes during class, students can seamlessly sync everything to MacBook Neo for further review, creating a smooth and connected workflow for capturing, organizing, and learning.After completing schoolwork, students can transition into leisure and entertainment. With GeForce NOW powered by Taiwan Mobile, there is no need to install large game files, while game progress can be saved across devices through cloud saves, enabling access to AAA titles via cloud gaming. From productive learning during the day to relaxing entertainment at night, MacBook Neo paired with Taiwan Mobile's low-latency, ultra-fast 5G and Wi-Fi delivers everything students need for a modern digital lifestyle.Professionals: Unlimited 5G Hotspot Sharing Powers Seamless Work on MacBook AirThe second scenario focuses on professionals, highlighting how to maintain efficiency amid fragmented information and the growing demand for mobile productivity. It also showcases Taiwan Mobile's NT$1,599 monthly plan with unlimited 5G hotspot sharing.With MacBook Air paired with iPhone and Apple Watch, users can stay productive anytime, anywhere. Whether reviewing reports during the commute, delivering presentations on the high-speed rail, or joining last-minute online meetings, they can rely on stable connectivity and smooth performance-turning every location into a mobile workspace.Creators: OP Tech Life and Double Play Plan Enable a Seamless Creative Workflow with Mac miniThe final scenario focuses on creators, demonstrating how OP Tech Life and Double Play Plan, which integrates mobile connectivity and home Wi-Fi, address the challenges of fragmented processes across shooting, organizing, and post-production.When shooting on the go, iPhone 17 Pro Max captures 4K video, while 5G connectivity enables real-time content transfer and processing. Back in the studio, high-speed broadband supports a smooth continuation of the creative process. With AirDrop, files can be quickly transferred and seamlessly integrated with Mac mini and other devices, allowing the entire workflow, from shooting to editing and post-production, to be completed efficiently. This empowers creators to maintain creative momentum and maximize productivity without interruption.Four New "OP Tech Life" Bundles: Elevating Mac Across All ScenariosTo further enhance the Mac experience, Taiwan Mobile's "OP Life" series introduces four curated bundles, providing users with a complete, out-of-the-box solution for various use cases.AI All-in-One Smart Laptop BundlesDesigned for the MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, these bundles pair Mac notebooks with premium Logitech peripherals, including the Lift for Mac Ergonomic Vertical Mouse or the MX Master 4 for Mac Wireless Mouse. These combinations cater to entry-level users, advanced creators, and high-productivity professionals alike.MacBook Neo Bundle: Available for $0 with a NT$1,399 (48-month) plan.MacBook Air & MacBook Pro Bundles: Starting at $15,900 and $34,900 respectively, with NT$1,399 and NT$2,699 (48-month) plans.AI All-in-One Mini Desktop BundleFor desktop users, the Mac mini is paired with the Logitech K580 Wireless Keyboard to meet the demands of home offices and multitasking. This versatile setup is available for $0 with a NT$1,399 (48-month) plan.MacBook Neo AI All-in-One Bundle: $0 with NT$1,399 plan (48 months). Credit: Taiwan MobileOver 1,000 AI Tech Consultants Lower Barriers to Technology Use Across Four Key AreasIn addition to its multi-channel sales rollout, Taiwan Mobile has established dedicated Mac demonstration zones across 100 select myfone retail stores. Nationwide, more than 1,000 AI Tech Consultants are available to support customers. Covering four key areas across product expertise, device connectivity, customer service, and problem-solving, they help lower the barriers to cross-device usage.By integrating 5G and Wi-Fi broadband connectivity, device selection, and value-added content services, Taiwan Mobile aims to enable customers to activate and maximize the value of the Apple ecosystem from the moment they step into the store.Apply for Select Plans for a Chance to Win a Gold Coin; Online Shop Offers Additional Chances to Win MacBook Neo and iPhone 17eFrom now until May 31, 2026, customers who subscribe to, switch to, or renew eligible plans priced at NT$1,399 or above, bundle with select Mac products, and complete registration on the official website by June 2 will receive one entry for a chance to win a gold coin. Customers who subscribe to eligible plans priced at NT$1,599 or above, renew or upgrade their plans, add annual subscriptions for streaming services, or subscribe to "Double Play Plan" with 300 Mbps or higher broadband can receive up to five entries.In addition, customers who apply for designated plans or purchase Mac products via the myfone online shop will have the chance to win MacBook Neo, with an extra draw for iPhone 17e available until April 30. Renewal customers can receive up to NT$1,000 in myfone e-voucher rewards, with an additional NT$200 for social sharing. New subscriptions or number portability applications are also eligible for NT$500 in myfone e-vouchers.Bundle Mac with NT$1,399+ monthly plans by May 31 to win gold coins. Credit: Taiwan MobileSubscribe to Eligible 5G Plans to Enjoy a One-Year Free "GeForce NOW Powered by Taiwan Mobile" Ultra Plan Hourly SubscriptionGet MacBook Neo at $0 with Taiwan Mobile's NT$1,399 monthly plan. Credit: Taiwan MobileCustomers who subscribe to Mac products with designated plans can receive trade-in discounts of up to NT$32,100, along with additional savings of up to NT$5,000 for VIP renewals. MacBook Neo is available at $0 under eligible plans. Furthermore, using the "Open Possible" Co-branded Card for purchases at myfone stores earns 2% cashback, alongside up to 3.5% cashback on telecom bills. Customers will also enjoy a range of value-added services, including a two-month free trial of Apple One, NT$50 App Store billing credits, and up to four months of YouTube Premium. In addition, a 12-month free membership to "GeForce NOW powered by Taiwan Mobile" Ultra Plan Hourly Subscription and a six-month free trial of the OP Scam Buster advanced plan.Taiwan Mobile further offers exclusive benefits such as a three-month free trial of MyVideo, Business Today app, CommonWealth Magazine Digital Subscription, and WeMo PASS, along with NT$50 ride coupons for daily rental services, providing an integrated experience across entertainment, reading, and smart lifestyle services.For streaming services, Taiwan Mobile offers a variety of discounted plans, including Prime Video at NT$89/month (originally NT$169), HBO Max Standard Plan (annual subscription, monthly payment) at NT$160/month (originally NT$220), and Disney+ 24-month add-on plan at NT$199/month (originally NT$285), as well as the Taiwan Mobile exclusive Multi-Streaming Package at up to 44% off. Additionally, customers on the "Double Play Plan" 1Gbps designated plan can enjoy selected home appliances worth up to NT$10,000 at no cost, or up to 10 months free on the Multi-Streaming Package, plus a complimentary 3-month KKBOX trial-delivering a more complete digital entertainment experience.NT$100 Off for Every NT$1,000 Spent on Selected Accessories for MacTaiwan Mobile is also introducing promotions on Mac-related accessories, covering both Apple original products and selected third-party options to enhance the overall user experience. Apple accessories include Magic Mouse with USB-C, Magic Keyboard with USB-C, USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, 240W USB-C Charge Cable, 40W Power Adapter, and 70W USB-C Power Adapter.Selected third-party accessories include laptop sleeves, the Momax ONELINK 8-in-1 USB-C multi-function adapter, magnetic privacy screen protectors designed for MacBook 13.6-inch and MacBook Neo, as well as magnetic aluminum stands, providing a wide range of options for different user needs.
The rapid growth of the global low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications sector, coupled with intensifying competition in next-generation communications technologies, is driving strong demand across the supply chain and reshaping the global space economy.Under a startup development program led by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), through its Commercialization and Industry Services Center, organized the "2026 Taiwan-UK-France Next-Generation Communications & Space Industry Delegation." From March 3 to 12, 2026, the delegation brought together over 11 Taiwanese space and communications startups, established companies, and industry representatives to London, Oxford, Toulouse, and Paris.During the visit, the delegation attended major industry events, including Space-Comm Expo and Paris Space Week, and engaged with key European stakeholders such as the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Eutelsat OneWeb, Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Defence and Space, and CNES. These engagements enabled Taiwanese companies to establish linkages across the European space supply chain, from components to system integration.Building on the foundation established during its 2025 UK visit, ITRI further strengthened international collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Space South Central, a leading space cluster in southern England. The partnership focuses on advancing aerospace supply chain integration, promoting bilateral industry engagement, and supporting startup selection and international expansion. It also aims to establish a long-term Taiwan-UK collaboration platform for the space industry, reinforcing ITRI’s role in accelerating the global reach of Taiwan's SpaceTech startups.Expanding Opportunities at Space-Comm ExpoSpace-Comm Expo, one of Europe's leading commercial space exhibitions, was held from March 4 to 5, 2026, at ExCeL London, attracting over 250 companies and approximately 6,900 industry and academic professionals.The Taiwan Pavilion, "Taiwan Space," was prominently located at the center of the exhibition hall and served as a key engagement hub. On the opening day, a Taiwan-UK Cultural Exchange Tea Reception welcomed international partners, government representatives, and industry experts, fostering dialogue in a relaxed setting and drawing strong visitor interest.One-on-one meetings were arranged between the delegation and leading UK satellite companies, including BAE Systems and Filtronic, focusing on collaboration opportunities in the satellite component supply chain. Additional engagements were conducted with the Space Denmark delegation and companies affiliated with Space South Central, enhancing the visibility of Taiwanese startups in Europe and laying the groundwork for future partnerships.On March 5, ITRI convened the Taiwan-UK Space Industry Roundtable in collaboration with Satellite Applications Catapult (SA Catapult). CEO John Abbott delivered a keynote on UK satellite application market trends. The roundtable brought together representatives from ESA Business Incubation Centre, Airbus Launchpad, and Open Cosmos, facilitating direct engagement on technology applications and supply chain integration while strengthening prospects for international collaboration.Taiwan Pavilion Takes Center StageIn addition to facilitating direct engagement between the delegation and the UK space sector, ITRI hosted the "Taiwan Country Showcase" on the main stage of Space-Comm Expo on March 4, highlighting Taiwan's comprehensive space industry capabilities.The session was moderated by Jessi Fu, Manager of the Strategic Alliances & Marketing Department at ITRI's Startup Ecosystem & Incubation Division. Featured speakers included Julien Hennequin, Senior Business Development Manager at Tensor Tech; Henry Chen, Senior Manager at BaseTech; and Lloyd Jacob Lopez, Co-Founder of HEX20. Together, they presented a systematic overview of Taiwan's space industry, spanning from key components to system-level integration. The session attracted nearly 100 European industry participants and sparked lively on-site discussions, significantly enhancing the global visibility of Taiwan's space sector.On March 5, ITRI further organized the "Global Industry Showcase," a dedicated technology forum for Taiwanese startups. This session enabled delegation members to directly present their latest technological advancements to European industry stakeholders, covering forward-looking domains such as B5G/6G communications, satellite manufacturing, and space applications. The forum effectively demonstrated Taiwan's unique competitiveness and innovation capabilities within the global space industry.Harwell Campus, located on the outskirts of Oxford, is a key hub in the global space sector. Following the conclusion of Space-Comm Expo, ITRI arranged a visit on March 6 to the UK Satellite Applications Catapult, followed by a tour of RAL Space, the UK's national satellite testing facility. These visits provided delegation members with deeper insights into the UK's capabilities in satellite applications and testing and validation.An additional exchange session was held at the Magdrive Lab, where delegation members engaged with representatives from more than 10 UK space companies. The session further strengthened existing networks and facilitated follow-up discussions on potential collaborations and business opportunities.In addition, the delegation visited Eutelsat OneWeb in London's West End, where they held in-depth discussions with Neha Idnani, Regional Vice President for APAC. The exchanges focused on exploring cross-border collaboration opportunities in low Earth orbit satellite communications, wireless communications, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.Toulouse Engagements Highlight France's Aerospace EcosystemFollowing the conclusion of Space-Comm Expo, ITRI organized the delegation’s visit to France from March 9 to 11. The group first traveled to Toulouse - widely recognized as France's "Silicon Valley" for aerospace and one of Europe's leading aerospace hubs - to engage with key players in the regional space industry ecosystem. During Paris Space Week 2026, the delegation also conducted business meetings with international buyers and investors from more than 150 companies across over 40 countries, expanding collaboration opportunities beyond those initiated at Space-Comm Expo.Upon arrival in France on March 9, ITRI arranged visits to satellite mission service provider Loft Orbital and nanosatellite manufacturer U-Space. In addition, a joint matchmaking and exchange session was organized with GIFAS (the French Aerospace Industries Association) and Aerospace Valley, facilitating technical exchanges and one-on-one business meetings between Taiwanese and French companies. These engagements enabled delegation members to explore multiple potential collaboration opportunities and establish follow-on business collaborations.On the following day, the delegation visited Thales Alenia Space, one of the world's leading satellite system manufacturers; Univity, a French startup; Eutelsat, a major low Earth orbit satellite communications operator based in Toulouse; and Airbus Defence and Space, Europe's largest space and defense systems provider. These visits provided valuable insights into the technological developments and supply chain requirements of major European system integrators. Direct engagement with key decision-makers also enabled in-depth discussions on product applications and partnership models, further strengthening the feasibility of Taiwanese companies entering international markets.During Paris Space Week 2026, ITRI continued to facilitate business matchmaking and engagement with global space industry stakeholders, supporting delegation members in expanding potential collaboration pipelines. Notably, prior to the main delegation itinerary, Taiwan’s Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA), together with ITRI, visited Station F - Europe's largest startup incubator - to proactively establish an international network for space startups and deepen connections between Taiwan and Europe's innovation ecosystems.Overall, the initiative effectively enabled Taiwanese companies to access the European supply chain, delivering tangible outcomes in business matchmaking, technology exchange, and brand visibility. The visit not only generated concrete orders and follow-up collaboration opportunities, but also provided deeper insights into the European space industry landscape, laying a solid foundation for long-term international partnerships.Strengthening Taiwan's Global Space PositionThe delegation included nine startups and SMEs from the TAcc+ program, along with two major industry associations, covering key areas such as satellite manufacturing, communication subsystems, ground equipment, payload applications, and system integration.The initiative resulted in multiple high-level business matchmaking engagements and the signing of the MOU with Space South Central, marking a significant milestone in advancing the internationalization of Taiwan's space industry.Looking ahead, ITRI will continue to build on its strengths in international engagement and delegation planning, aligned with the TAcc+ program, to follow up on collaboration opportunities generated during the visit. It will also actively attract high-potential European space startups to establish a presence in Taiwan, further enhancing the global competitiveness and long-term development of Taiwan’s space sector.TAcc+ hosted the Taiwan Country Showcase at Space-Comm Expo, highlighting Taiwan's space industry. Credit: ITRI
Global Unichip Corp. (GUC), the advanced ASIC leader, today announced the successful demonstration of a 12 Gbps HBM4 IP platform implemented on TSMC's 3nm process technology at the Partner Pavilion of the TSMC 2026 North America Technology Symposium. The platform features GUC's in-house full functional HBM4 Controller and PHY IP, integrated with a partner's HBM4 memory, and used TSMC's industry-leading CoWoS advanced packaging technology.GUC's previous-generation HBM3E PHY and Controller, deployed in customers'3nm products, have achieved speeds 15% above specification in production. JEDEC continues to drive an aggressive HBM roadmap, increasing memory throughput and capacity while further doubling the data bus width in HBM4. Comparing with HBM3E, GUC's HBM4 IP delivers 2.5x bandwidth, while improving power efficiency by 1.5x and area efficiency by 2x.In line with GUC's previous HBM, GLink, and UCIe IP solutions, the HBM4 IP integrates proteanTecs' interconnect monitoring solution to provide high visibility for PHY testing and characterizing, while enhancing in-field performance and reliability for end products.To address the growing demand for 3DIC architectures, GUC's HBM4 PHY also supports a face-upconfiguration, enabling integration with TSMC's SoIC face-to-face technology. The PHY macrointegrates TSVs for PHY's I/O signals, power, and ground connections, and also reserves TSVs forpower feedthrough to the top die, supporting the power distribution requirements of the upper logic die."We are proud to be the first company to demonstrate a 12 Gbps HBM4 IP to customers at theTSMC Symposium" said Igor Elkanovich, CTO of GUC. "Together with GUC's UCIe and GLink-3D IPs, we offer a complete 2.5D/3D IP solution for modern 3.5D system architectures, includingTSMC SoIC-X on CoWoS."For more information,please visit our website.12 Gbps Eye Diagram. Credit:Guc
Tracking devices play a critical role in the Internet of Things (IoT) by enabling real-time monitoring and data collection across various industries. As IoT applications expand, the demand for energy-efficient solutions becomes increasingly important. This article explores the rise of battery-efficient tracking devices and their transformative impact on IoT ecosystems.Advancements in Tracking DevicesTracking devices first emerged with the advent of GPS technology, revolutionizing location-based services. Early applications were limited, but as the Internet of Things (IoT) grew, tracking devices expanded into sectors like logistics, agriculture, and personal safety, offering real-time monitoring.However, traditional devices faced challenges like short battery life and high maintenance costs. To address these issues, advancements in energy-efficient technologies, such as low-power wireless communication and optimized sensors, led to the development of battery-efficient models. These innovations have paved the way for longer-lasting and cost-effective tracking devices that are essential for the expanding IoT landscape.How Battery-Efficient Technology WorksBattery-efficient tracking devices use low-power wireless technologies like LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to enable long-range communication with minimal power consumption. Sleep modes, energy harvesting techniques (such as solar or kinetic energy), and ultra-low-power processors help extend battery life.Advances in sensor technology allow these devices to collect accurate data while consuming less energy. For example, a GPS trailer tracking uses these technologies to provide long-lasting performance to ensure reliable location tracking without frequent recharging. This makes it ideal for industries like logistics that require continuous monitoring with energy-efficient solutions.Impact on IndustriesBattery-efficient tracking devices have a significant impact across various industries:In logistics and fleet management, they reduce maintenance costs and extend tracking durations for vehicles.In agriculture, smart farming solutions leverage these devices to monitor livestock and machinery with minimal energy consumption.Personal safety benefits from wearable devices that track health and location, requiring less frequent charging.Additionally, the environmental impact of these devices is profound, as longer-lasting batteries help reduce waste and the environmental concerns associated with battery disposal.Benefits Over Traditional Tracking DevicesBattery-efficient tracking devices offer several key advantages over traditional models. Longer operational life is a major benefit, as these devices can run for months or even years on a single charge, reducing the need for frequent recharging or battery replacements. This is especially valuable in remote or hard-to-reach locations.Additionally, reduced maintenance requirements lower operational disruptions, as there’s less need for battery changes or regular maintenance. Lower operational costs are another advantage, with businesses saving on battery replacements and charging infrastructure.Lastly, increased accessibility and scalability enable businesses to deploy more devices across large-scale operations, such as fleet management or asset tracking, without incurring high costs. These benefits make battery-efficient tracking devices an essential solution for industries looking to optimize their IoT networks and reduce long-term costs while enhancing operational efficiency.EndnoteBattery-efficient tracking devices are playing an important role in making IoT systems more sustainable and practical. As technology continues to improve, these devices will become even more integrated into various industries, helping to streamline operations and reduce energy consumption. The ongoing development in this area promises a future where tracking solutions are efficient and cost-effective.
SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has begun mass production of the 192GB SOCAMM2, a next-generation memory module standard based on the 1cnm process (sixth-generation of the 10-nanometer technology) LPDDR5X low-power DRAM.SOCAMM2 is a module that adapts low-power memory – which was previously used mainly in mobile products like smartphones – for server environments. It is designed to be a primary memory solution for next-generation AI servers.SK hynix emphasized that the 1cnm based SOCAMM2 product that is now in mass production delivers more than double the bandwidth with over 75% improved power efficiency compared to conventional RDIMM, providing an optimized solution for high performance AI operations.In particular, the company noted that its SOCAMM2 products are designed for NVIDIA Vera Rubin platform.SK hynix expects the new SOCAMM2 product will fundamentally resolve the memory bottlenecks encountered during the training and inference of large language model (LLM) with hundreds of billions of parameters, thereby playing a pivotal role in dramatically accelerating the processing speed of the overall system.The company stated that with the AI market shifting focus from inference to training, SOCAMM2 is gaining significant attention as a next-generation memory solution capable of operating LLMs with low power consumption. To meet the demands of its global Cloud Service Provider (CSP) customers, SK hynix has not only been providing a supply portfolio, but also stabilized its mass production system early on."By supplying the 192GB SOCAMM2, SK hynix has established a new standard for AI memory performance" Justin Kim, President & Head of AI Infra (CMO, Chief Marketing Officer) at SK hynix said. "We will solidify our position as the most trusted AI memory solution provider, through close collaboration with our global AI customers."SK hynix 192GB SOCAMM2, high-bandwidth and power-efficient. Credit: SK hynix
Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, has completed the acquisition of Smiths Interconnect, a subsidiary of United Kingdom-based Smiths Group plc, marking a major milestone in Molex's vision to enable technology that is transforming the future and improving people's lives. Smiths Interconnect brings a diverse portfolio of complementary products and advantaged capabilities in ruggedized custom connectors, contacts, RF components and optical transceivers for harsh environments. Smiths Interconnect also brings leading semiconductor test capabilities that complement Molex's data communications and data center solutions to support growth in AI, along with a strong medical interconnect capability to support Medtech customers."We are excited to finalize the Smiths Interconnect acquisition, which expands our portfolio and engineering expertise worldwide," said Joe Nelligan, CEO, Molex. "Along with their products and technology, we are excited about the Smiths Interconnect's global team and the strong customer relationships that they have established."As the largest acquisition in Molex's history, the addition of Smiths Interconnect positions Molex to drive innovation across the high-reliability interconnect market - encompassing aerospace and defense, space exploration, industrial, medical and semiconductor test industries. The combination of Smiths Interconnect's capabilities with Molex's global footprint, engineering strength, culture and financial strength enables Molex to deliver increased value to customers around the world."This acquisition reinforces Molex's position as a leader across every sector where high reliability is critical," said Michael Cole, SVP and president, Aerospace and Defense Solutions Division, Molex. "By unifying these high-reliability solutions under the Molex banner, we provide a borderless platform that enables engineers to leverage ruggedized, precision-engineered connectivity."The Smiths Interconnect acquisition expands Molex's global footprint to over 90 plants across 22 countries, and its global headcount to over 55,000 employees. The integration creates strong design and technical alignment to enhance innovation and solution capabilities to provide more value to customers. This news builds upon the November 2024 acquisition of AirBorn by Molex, a foundational milestone in serving customers in the aerospace and defense market."The integration of Smiths Interconnect into the Molex engineering ecosystem is a significant win for the global design engineering community," said Lew LaFornara, SVP, Global Interconnect Business Strategy, TTI. "As a prominent Smiths Interconnect distributor, we are excited to continue offering our customers access to a robust line of mission-critical solutions - spanning aerospace and defense, medical, industrial and semiconductor test - all backed by Molex's world-class logistics and technical support."
The rapid proliferation of generative AI, coupled with increasingly sophisticated fraud and disinformation tactics, has made technology-driven risk mitigation and information verification a global priority. Organized by DIGITIMES and co-organized by Taiwan's National Development Council (NDC), the hackathon brought together developers to address these challenges through an "AI against AI" approach.Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), the event also featured BitoPro, a cryptocurrency exchange under BitoGroup, and Gogolook, a TrustTech company, as challenge providers. Participants leveraged advanced AI tools to tackle critical societal issues, including fraud prevention for the elderly and virtual currency transaction security, translating innovative concepts into practical and scalable solutions.Fraud Prevention Elevated to National Security Priority: Government Strengthens Cross-Agency CollaborationDuring the awards ceremony, Tsai Yen-ming, Deputy Commissioner of the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) under Taiwan's National Police Agency (NPA), emphasized that fraud has evolved from isolated criminal incidents into a complex and systemic threat-undermining social trust, disrupting financial order, and even posing risks to national security.To address these challenges, the CIB has established a Technology Crime Prevention Center to strengthen technology-driven investigative capabilities and talent development, alongside a Fraud Prevention Center that integrates cross-ministerial resources coordinated by the Executive Yuan to enhance overall anti-fraud capacity. Tsai noted that the competition's focus on fraud prevention and virtual currency transaction security has already demonstrated strong potential for real-world implementation. He expressed optimism about deepening collaboration with private-sector teams to accelerate the adoption of AI-driven anti-fraud technologies within the public sector.Empowering the Next Generation of Tech TalentThe hackathon attracted a diverse group of young developers from universities across Taiwan. During the event, Colley Huang, Chairman of DIGITIMES and IC Radio, encouraged participants to identify their roles and create value amid a rapidly evolving technological landscape. He noted that today's generation faces both challenges and opportunities shaped by the convergence of AI, semiconductors, and geopolitics. Early engagement with emerging technologies and the cultivation of differentiated capabilities, he said, will be essential for building long-term competitiveness.AWS Provides Cloud Infrastructure and AI Tools to Enhance Solution FeasibilityTo enhance the feasibility of the proposed solutions, AWS provided a comprehensive cloud development environment and technical support. Prior to the competition, participants attended workshops to familiarize themselves with AWS's advanced cloud services and AI capabilities. Teams also utilized Kiro, a purpose-built IDE with advanced AI agents, enabling them to rapidly build robust minimum viable products (MVPs) within the 27-hour development period.Robert Wang, Managing Director of AWS Taiwan, stated that the hackathon successfully brought together government, enterprises, and developers specifically focused on fraud prevention - a highly critical social issue - demonstrating the power of cross-sector collaboration in leveraging technology to solve complex challenges. He noted that fraud tactics continue to evolve by exploiting both technological advancements and human vulnerabilities, making it essential to deploy "equivalent countermeasures" powered by AI and data analytics. Wang further highlighted that Taiwan's extensive experience in fraud prevention holds significant export potential, and that the competition's outcomes not only address domestic challenges but also underscore the global commercial viability of Taiwan-developed anti-fraud solutions.Gogolook: Building a Cross-Sector Anti-Fraud EcosystemIn the "Fraud Identification and Prevention" category, with Gogolook serving as the challenge provider, many teams extensively leveraged Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed AWS service that provides access to high-performing foundation models. By integrating multiple foundation models, participants elevated fraud prevention from simple alert notifications to sophisticated, logic-driven explanations that help users understand why content is fraudulent. Team (1) demonstrated the practical application of AI in enhancing real-time fraud detection and decision-making, ultimately securing the top award.Reiny Song, Co-founder and CTO of Gogolook, remarked that fraud has evolved into a systemic issue spanning digital ecosystems, financial systems, and societal trust. While AI has amplified emerging risks, it also represents a critical tool in combating fraud. He emphasized that effective fraud prevention requires more than a single product; it depends on building a cross-sector ecosystem that integrates technology, real-world scenarios, and talent to drive scalable implementation. The competition showcased not only innovative concepts but also practical and viable technical solutions, advancing fraud prevention from theory to execution.BitoGroup: Strengthening Security in the Virtual Currency EcosystemIn the "Virtual Currency Transaction Security" category, Team "Bibi Lab" secured the top award. Titan Cheng, Founder and CEO of BitoGroup, the challenge provider for this category, noted that fraud and cybersecurity threats will become increasingly complex in the AI era, particularly as virtual currency-related crimes continue to evolve. Addressing these challenges, he said, will require sustained and high-intensity efforts rather than short-term initiatives.Cheng emphasized the importance of strengthening data governance and risk detection capabilities through the exchange of technical frameworks and practical experience, enabling both enterprises and society to collectively elevate their defense capabilities. He added that the competition not only served as a platform to showcase and validate technological innovations but also helped drive the broader adoption and advancement of anti-fraud solutions across the industry.Advancing Taiwan's AI and Bilingual Talent DevelopmentThe hackathon aligns with Taiwan's national agenda to promote AI industrialization and enhance digital societal security, while strengthening international collaboration and talent cultivation. The event received support from the National Development Council's subsidy program for promoting bilingual talent development and fostering an English-friendly environment.By convening nearly 100 AI professionals from across Taiwan, the competition translated the government's "fraud awareness for all" initiative into scalable and practical technological solutions, enhancing public awareness and resilience against emerging fraud tactics.The "Agent for Truth: Disinformation Defense Hackathon" served not only as a technological competition but also as a public-wide collaborative effort to build a digital defense network through public-private partnership and cross-generational co-creation. By bringing together cross-disciplinary AI talent to develop innovative solutions that genuinely protect citizens and strengthen societal resilience, the event demonstrated the potential for deeper cross-sector collaboration to build a more robust trustworthy information ecosystem and create a safer, more digitally resilient information environment for Taiwan.Government and industry leaders gather at the hackathon awards ceremony. Credit: DIGITIMES
Amidst the reality of global oil prices continuously skyrocketing due to war, the global market is facing the formidable challenges posed by the turbulence impacting the global economy in 2026. Major Taiwanese electronics manufacturers and supply chains are pivoting to review comprehensive AI strategies. They are adopting a particularly aggressive stance in their strategic deployment of cloud server systems and AI infrastructure, aiming to achieve an operational breakthrough where the market outlook remains far from optimistic.ASUS unveils its complete Professional Services for Sovereign AI. Since the first project in 2018, which resulted in Taiwan's first AI supercomputer, Taiwania 2, ASUS has been actively developing sovereign AI infrastructure and providing customized AI solutions to clients. Delivering trusted AI with total flexibility, from rack-scale AI Factories, desktop AI supercomputing, Edge AI to Enterprise AI solutions deployment, the company is redefining Sovereign AI Solutions with reinforces the company's position as a global leader in AI-driven digital transformation.On April 1, 2026, ASUS joins the DIGITIMES online seminar titled "Leading the Way in Sovereign AI: A Look at Next-Generation AI Computing and Storage Architecture from Supercomputing Performance". This event starts with the construction and practical application of next-generation supercomputers at the National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC) of the National Applied Research Laboratories. This collaborative project shows ASUS Powering NCHC to building Taiwan's AI Supercomputer and the next generation of High Performance Computing (HPC) systems.As AI and high HPC workloads push compute density and power consumption beyond the capabilities of traditional air cooling, the flagship ASUS offerings are the ASUS AI POD systems redefining the new architecture of rack-scale powerhouse, storage architecture, and liquid cooling designed for massive AI workloads. This momentum will continue to maximize computing power density through the NVIDIA HGXTM and Blackwell platforms and provide insights into solving heat dissipation bottlenecks with advanced liquid cooling technology to meet the performance and energy efficiency requirements of high-computing environments.Practical experience in building a leading infrastructure in Taiwan High Performance ComputingThe first session features a keynote lecture by Nobel Hsia, ASUS Deputy Manager of Product Planning, titled "Leading the Sovereign AI Wave: From the National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC) projects to ASUS's Forward-Looking Infrastructure and Storage Solutions." ASUS's Sovereign AI targets the business opportunities that countries are currently striving to play the vital role of innovation in securing data sovereignty and security with in-house data processing and computing capabilities, and promotes the transformation of scientific research in the industry. ASUS has partnered with NVIDIA to build a massive AI supercomputer system with an "ALL IN on AI" strategy. Through the maximum computing power density provided by the NVIDIA HGXTM and Blackwell platforms, ASUS has deployed complete portfolio ranging from rack-scale AI factories to edge and enterprise deployment. With its proven track record of successfully supplying AI infrastructure at the B300 and GB300 levels in the market, ASUS has become a trusted partner, providing complete end-to-end solutions.It is worth mentioning that ASUS has ten years of experience collaborating with the National Center for High-performance Computing on supercomputer projects. ASUS's sovereign AI expertise is proven by several successful national-level AI project deployments, including flagship supercomputing initiatives such as Taiwania 2 and Forerunner 1, cementing its leadership in high-performance computing and AI systems. Through ASUS Professional Services, the collaboration covers all aspects from design, deployment to operation.The latest Nano4 (Crystal 26) NVIDIA HGXTM H200 cluster AI server system was to build a next-generation AI supercomputer capable of handling complex large language models (LLMs), deep learning, and advanced HPC workloads. In this new project ASUS has built Taiwan's first AI supercomputer project based on NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 system architecture with direct-cooling technology. The engineering team has played an important role in the delivery of the servers, the planning of large-scale computing architecture, deployment and optimization, which has become the foundation for ASUS to expand its overseas AI deployment and demonstrate ASUS's ability to build computing power from national to international levels.Opening Agentic AI Frontier: ASUS Supports NVIDIA Vera Rubin Platform and InfrastructureIn response to the advent of the new-generation NVIDIA Vera Rubin platform and its accompanying infrastructure architecture, ASUS has developed the next-generation ASUS AI POD highlighting a proficiency in liquid-cooled AI solution. Spanning the new design from rack-scale AI factories, data center servers to desktop workstations and edge AI devices, this solution delivers end-to-end AI computing power and infrastructure, specifically targeting trillion-parameter models and million-token contexts, maximizing efficiency across power, memory, and compute.Hsia began by introducing the ASUS flagship XA VR721-E3 architecture. This system supports the NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 platforms; it is purpose-built for large-scale AI model inference and training to deliver massive AI performance for large-scale AI factories. while also accommodating the specific workloads required for agentic AI. Designed as a 100% liquid-cooled, rack-scale system, it features a Thermal Design Power (TDP) reaching up to 227 kW, which is a capability that fully satisfies the demand for the immense performance required to compute AI models with trillions of parameters.Furthermore, addressing rigorous enterprise-grade data-center demands, ASUS has simultaneously launched the XA NR series. These product series support the NVIDIA HGXTM Rubin NVL8 architecture, featuring eight Rubin GPUs interconnected via the sixth-generation NVLink, which each GPU could deliver a maximum bandwidth of 800 GB/s. To facilitate a seamless and cost-effective transition to liquid cooling, ASUS offers two distinct solutions: the XA NR1I-E12L, an innovative hybrid-cooled option; and the XA NR1I-E12LR, a 100% liquid-cooled system.To support these powerful systems and democratize AI development, ASUS also has established a robust data ecosystem by partnering with NVIDIA-Certified storage providers. The storage solutions offers the technologies such as JBOD, DPDK, and Object Storage, thereby delivering scalable, resilient solutions for memory-intensive AI applications to support robust capabilities for the integrated storage and operational management.On the software front, ASUS provides a suite of one-stop platforms. Leveraging the ASUS Infrastructure Deployment Center (AIDC), ASUS automated the setup process including ACC (ASUS Control Center) and BMC, accelerating time-to-market for critical research resources. To address the full spectrum of requirements for system construction, deployment, and operations, ASUS provides expert consultation, a broad portfolio of tailor-made AI solution while simultaneously catering to the comprehensive lifecycle management needs of the entire data center.WEKA data storage platform is redefining AI storage economicsTo meet the elastic data storage requirements of AI workloads across diverse usage scenarios, ASUS's AI POD system incorporates a comprehensive storage solution featuring a high-speed, All-Flash NVMe SSD storage architecture. ASUS has collaborated with its ecosystem partners to develop a next-generation unified storage system with high-reliability storage servers and professional validation of network. WEKA, the AI storage company, is one of partners providing high-performance, software-defined storage for GPU-accelerated AI and HPC environments, combining low latency with unified data management.In the second presentation of the session is delivered by Ray Wu, Senior Consultant for the Asia-Pacific region at WEKA. His speech titled the theme "Ultimate Data Empowerment: How WEKA Helps NCHC Build an AI-Accelerated Computing Storage Architecture". To address NCHC's requirements for extreme performance and energy efficiency, Wu highlighted the unified data management solutions to provide rapid scalability, which emphasizing flexibility and intelligent adaptive capabilities, and effectively addressing the demands of a wide array of usage scenarios.Addressing the requirements of diverse application environments such as Kubernetes and Slurm in NCHC Nano4, WEKA serves as the high-performance storage foundation through its efficient storage platform. Based on the NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference architecture, the solution employs an end-to-end system to accelerate data processing performance for HPC applications. This assists the NCHC in optimizing the deployment of high-efficiency AI computing, dramatically reducing the time required for AI application deployment and development from months to mere minutes.This ASUS WEKA storage solutions demonstrates the NCHC's technical excellence in leveraging its ecosystem and integrated services to rapidly deliver the low-latency, scalable and high throughput required capabilities and swiftly support the next generation of agent-based AI applications. WEKA solutions empower enterprises to transition from experimentation to full-scale operations, rendering AI applications economically viable and maximizing performance across a wide spectrum of fields, ranging from next-generation AI agent systems to AI-enabled healthcare applications.In this event, ASUS showcases fully liquid-cooled AI infrastructure with the critical thermal management required for the next-generation NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 system platform. By efficiently dissipating heat from high-performance CPUs, GPUs, and accelerator-dense racks, ASUS significantly reduces energy consumption while supporting unprecedented rack density to enable enterprises and cloud service providers to build high-performance, energy-efficient large-scale AI clusters with unmatched efficiency and dramatically reduced PUE and TCO.【White paper download】Empowering Scalable AI Reasoning with ASUS AI POD featuring【Webinar on-demand】Bridging NCHC Success to NVIDIA Vera Rubin Architecture
Cypress Technology has been dedicated to the research, development, and manufacturing of professional audiovisual solutions for 36 years, with all R&D and production facilities based in Taiwan. In recent years, the company has actively engaged with various application environments, gaining deep insights through close collaboration with users and on-site evaluations. This approach has enabled the continuous development of integrated solutions that meet the specific needs of diverse scenarios.With the rapid evolution of audiovisual technologies, the HyLinX AV over IP solution which leverages standard network packet transmission has emerged as a key trend in Pro AV industry due to its flexible deployment, centralized management, and high scalability. Cypress Technology has successfully implemented this technology in multiple judicial institutions both in Taiwan and abroad, helping transform courtrooms into efficient and intelligent digital environments.During court proceedings, the ability to present evidence and critical information to judges and juries in a real-time, clear, and transparent manner is essential to ensuring a smooth trial. As a result, comprehensive AV equipment configuration is crucial. Modern courtrooms are typically equipped with high-resolution displays and document cameras to present various types of evidence and documents in real time. Through the professional AV integration solutions of Cypress Technology to enable rapid switching and synchronized display of multiple signal sources, ensuring clear information delivery and intuitive operation.In addition, Cypress Technology's judicial AV integration solution can transmit video and audio signals from identification rooms on different floors to the courtroom in real time. This supports remote interrogation applications, allowing witnesses or involved parties to complete appearance procedures without being physically present. Through high-quality video transmission and synchronized recording functions, the entire trial process can be fully preserved, enhancing the convenience and reliability of judicial operations.Furthermore, the system displays evidence and important information simultaneously on high-resolution equipment, allowing judges and juries to grasp key content in real time. By integrating remote video participation with evidence retention, the solution not only ensures information integrity but also enhances trial efficiency and overall workflow.Beyond judicial applications, Cypress Technology's professional AV solutions are widely utilized in high-performance corporate meeting rooms, command and control centers, smart manufacturing situation rooms, medical imaging transmission, as well as education and public display environments. Moving forward, Cypress Technology will continue to invest in the research and development of high-efficiency audiovisual technologies while integrating sustainability into its product design and manufacturing processes. Cypress Technology remains committed to providing stable and reliable solutions that enable smarter and more efficient audiovisual workflows across diverse applications.Evidence Presentation in Digital Courtroom. Credit: Cypress Technology