Taipei International Computer Show (Computex) ended on Saturday after attracting 40,969 buyers from 177 nations over five days, up from 39,130 buyers from 165 nations last year, according to organizers. The introduction of the InnoVEX exhibition — which was set up to offer a venue for start-ups, manufacturers and venture capitalists — was one of the highlights of the show, attracting 10,975 visitors in three days, organizers said.
Computex started 36 years ago out as an information technology trade show and over the years has evolved into Taiwan’s premier showcase for local and international developers of computer-related products. Like another important trade event, Taipei International Cycle Show, Computex is a place for companies to exchange information and inspire new ideas, as well as reach out to potential customers and engage with quality suppliers.
However, changes in the development of PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics in recent years have added pressure to Taiwan’s PC-centric manufacturers to shift their focus toward the much broader Internet of Things (IoT) segment — including a wide range of smart home and other connected devices. Likewise, Computex has to transform and reposition itself in a larger industry context, with the four areas of focus this year being IoT applications, innovation and start-ups, smart business solutions, gaming PCs and virtual reality applications.
Some people said there was no excitement in this year’s Computex given the absence of several big brands, adding that the impact of the show is diminishing given the reduced number of launches of innovative applications or impressive products, while others said the show still has an unwavering importance in the eyes of global players, citing an increasing number of participating nations and first-timers.
Nevertheless, the setting up of two special pavilions for InnoVEX and SmarTEX demonstrated the organizers’ ambition to develop the nation into a new start-up hub, while shifting Computex’s focus from traditional computers to innovative, “smart connected” technologies.
The transformation of Computex comes at a time when President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) government is vowing to establish an “Asian Silicon Valley” in Taoyuan, which seeks to rely on the rapidly expanding IoT to set the basis for the nation’s industrial development over the next two decades. The goal of creating new forms of economic development models through the continuous development of IoT and other applications for smart devices and robotics would help achieve a more convenient life for people as well as more efficient manufacturing and increased business opportunities for local industries.
However, the challenges facing the nation are greater than just shifting the focus to the production of various IoT applications. While it is easy to meet IoT hardware design requirements, Taiwanese manufacturers need a well-developed ecosystem for innovative IoT applications and they must move toward software-hardware integration and content services development rather than solely focusing on hardware manufacturing. Both the government and tech companies also need to strengthen their capabilities to address important issues, such as data security, standardization and interoperability, along with the expansion of the IoT.
Last, counting on innovation to speed up economic transformation would certainly drive the need for an amicable environment that welcomes people with the necessary skills.
If the nation is to make the “Asian Silicon Valley” initiative work rather than making it just another industrial park, the government has to ease restrictions on businesses hiring white-collar foreign professionals, and companies need to change their mindset toward the use and cultivation of human resources.
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