The Canada-Taiwan Semiconductor Co-Innovation Forum, held on September 6 in Hsinchu during the week of SEMICON Taiwan 2024, attracted Taiwanese semiconductor supply chain companies eager to advance their products toward mass production within the next two to three years.
Focusing on Silicon Photonics, On-chip Communication, and Next-generation Packaging, the forum drew top Taiwanese companies across the semiconductor supply chain. Representatives and top executives from major original design manufacturers (ODM) attended in person to hear presentations from eight Canadian companies, carefully selected by the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT).
"Taiwan is a key partner for Canada, particularly in the semiconductor industry, where collaboration is vital to our shared success," said Ed Jager, Director of Trade and Investment at CTOT. "We're committed to working more closely with Taiwan than ever before and are eager to explore new avenues for cooperation in this rapidly evolving, cutting-edge field."
In his opening remarks, Jager highlighted Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy, emphasizing Taiwan's crucial role in expanding trade and investment within the semiconductor sector. He also referenced the Science, Technology, and Innovation MOU signed in April to support Canadian SMEs in partnering with Taiwanese companies on research and development projects.
With over 60 one-on-one business meetings arranged between Canadian startups, research organizations, and local supply chain participants, the forum successfully fostered collaborative opportunities. The Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) expressed its goal of creating meaningful connections at this inaugural B2B event they co-hosted in Taiwan and indicated plans for future engagements.
Many Taiwanese company representatives joined the forum hoping to find solutions to improve the energy efficiency and computing speed of their products aimed for mass production in 2027, said a senior industry advisor collecting information for a prominent AI PC OEM.
Credit: CTOT
Hockey-inspired strategies drive innovation
Canada may not yet rank among the top-tier nations in the global semiconductor industry, but it is well-positioned to be a key enabler of a more sustainable future for artificial intelligence (AI). Canadian technologies hold promise for data centers and edge inferencing solutions.
"We approach semiconductors the way we play hockey—with speed, precision, and a focus on avoiding the pitfalls of competing against massive global players," said Michael Le Goff, Industrial Technology Advisor to the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada.
Among the eight startups that presented at the forum, Blumind, the winner of the InnoVEX Innovation Award at COMPUTEX 2023, demonstrated how its analog computing technology can enhance energy efficiency, making edge computing more sustainable. Ranovus, a silicon photonics company invited to speak at the Silicon Photonics Industry Alliance's kickoff event (which includes industry leaders like TSMC and ASE), updated the audience on its co-packaged products supplied to customers to further develop in collaboration with MediaTek and AMD.
InPho and Star IC also showcased their photonic and electronic solutions, with Star IC emphasizing its rare expertise in analog-mixed signal IPs, which can benefit companies developing revolutionary technology. Stathera, whose silicon timer technology is rapidly gaining adoption, announced investments from MediaTek.
Meanwhile, Solace, which accelerates smart manufacturing with its innovative event-driven data solution, has secured TSMC as a customer. Advanced electromagnetic simulation EDA company CEM Works and software driver company Procero, which accelerates computing speed on devices, are also gaining traction with supply chain customers in Taiwan.
Beyond telecommunications and energy resources, the strong support from the Canadian government and research institutions such as NRC, Mila (Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute), and CMC Microsystems plays a crucial role in the success of these startups, sustaining the innovative prowess of Canada.
Semiconductor innovation cannot be achieved by any single country or company alone. Cross-country collaborations like the partnership between Canada and Taiwan are likely to drive significant advancements in cutting-edge innovations and solutions, paving the way for a more sustainable future where AI becomes ubiquitous in our daily lives.
