MOEA delegation embarks on a trip to the U.S. to successfully draw TWD3 billion investment in Taiwan

　The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held a press conference for “Achievements in the United States and Startup Signing Ceremony” in San Jose, California on February 23, 2023.  At the press conference, MOEA announced that two international leading tech companies, Lam Research and Cadence, will increase R&D investment in Taiwan to an estimated amount as much as TWD3 billion.  

　To intensify Taiwan-U.S. R&D cooperation, the Department of Industrial Technology delegation visited Lam Research, the world’s largest supplier of etching process equipment used in the semiconductor production, and Cadence, the leading EDA (electronic design automation) software provider ranking second in the global market, to discuss about and exchange views on the issues concerning promotion of U.S.-Taiwan industry-academia cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing and research and the expansion of R&D investment in Taiwan.  Lam Research has built up its supply chain for semiconductor equipment parts in Taiwan for years.  Now with an aim to amplify the bilateral cooperation, Lam Research will establish an R&D center in Taiwan with increased investment, so as to strengthen the technical services for advanced processes, expand the scale of the equipment supply chain in Taiwan, and also to speed up the realization of 2-nm mass production.  On the other hand, Cadence has taken roots and operated in Taiwan for almost 40 years and has been taking a significant part in the advancement of the local semiconductor technology.  On top of the sustained development of the local semiconductor industry, Cadence will work with Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute this year to set up a lab and begin to develop the chiplet design tools, which will lead to a connection with the U.S.’s research projects and international organizations and further benefit Taiwanese businesses.

　Also in the hope of connecting Taiwanese startups with the global market, the Department of Industrial Technology selected 13 startup teams to go to the U.S. for 3-month intensive training at Stanford and Berkely SkyDesk accelerator at the end of 2022.  During the process of training, the startup teams had participated the world’s largest consumer electronics show, CES, and also visited companies to seek business opportunities.  At the press conference, the founder of EZClaim signed an MOU with the CEO of Agile Point and the president of Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco Bay Area for the innovative insurance claim calculation system developed, which is expected to help Taiwanese nationals to promptly connect with Taiwan’s insurance mechanism when taking medical treatment in the U.S..  By using AI algorithm, such an innovative calculation system is able to help Taiwan nationals estimate the range of claim, evaluate one’s own need for insurance claim, and select the most suitable medical treatment to decrease the medical expenses incurred overseas.  The founder of EleClean and the U.S.-based Best Home Health Care Inc. executed a cooperative sales agreement for launch of disinfection home appliances in the post-COVID market and for expanding EleClean’s points of sales on international market.  

　In addition, Coolso Technology Inc., which develops the sensor technology of signals of muscle movement, will work with Qualcomm and engage in independent software vendor partner trial.  Also, Free Bionics, engaged in developing robotic exoskeletons, will sign an MOU with Reneu Health, a rehab clinic chain in San Diego.  The developer of AI application solutions for net-zero emissions, WeThink AI, will initiate cooperation for proof of concept with Eni, the 7^th largest petroleum company in the world.  (Released 2023.02.24)  
/CCS