The US-based Super Micro Computer Inc and Taiwan’s Guo Rui on Wednesday announced a joint venture to build a computation center powered only by renewable energy.
After meeting with Supermicro founder Charles Liang (梁見後) and Guo Rui chairman Lin Po-wen (林博文), Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) instructed a cross-ministry panel to be established to help promote the government’s green energy policies and facilitate efforts to obtain land for the generation of green power, Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said.
Cho thanked Liang for his company’s support of the government’s 2019 Action Plan for Welcoming Overseas Taiwanese Businesses to Return to Invest in Taiwan, and Supermicro’s willingness to work with Taiwanese companies and increase their international clout.
Photo: Fang Wei-chieh, Taipei Times
While the premier did not openly instruct the ministries to facilitate the companies’ joint venture, he asked Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs to head a cross-ministerial task force to increase Taiwan’s attraction for international investment in renewable energy and artificial intelligence (AI), Lee said.
An Executive Yuan source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the government should facilitate foreign investors’ increased investment in Taiwan, as such investments go hand-in-hand with government policies to grow AI and renewable energies.
While the economic ministry is not leading the task force, it would be the primary facilitator for cross-ministry efforts, the source said, adding that Kung has been included, as he had worked with Liang before.
Separately, Nvidia Corp also stated its intent to establish a secondary headquarters in Taiwan that would be equal in size to its Silicon Valley headquarters.
At the agency’s end-of-year news conference on Wednesday, National Development Council Minister Paul Liu (劉鏡清) said that foreign investors were willing to establish offices and centers in Taiwan because of the nation’s significant talent pool and relevant infrastructure, including the availability of water, power and Internet services, as well as the proximity to their supply chains.
Taiwan’s information technology and semiconductor industries are well-developed and could significantly influence global AI development, Liu said.
If such trends continue, Taiwan could form a new international hub for AI, he said.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said that the Taipei City Government would be in close contact with Nvidia representatives and would endeavor to persuade Nvidia to establish its overseas headquarters in Taipei.
Meanwhile, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said the New Taipei City Government has prepared a portfolio of possible sites and preferential measures that the municipality is willing to offer.
Hou and Chiang made the comments on Tuesday before a meeting of next year’s World Masters Games organization committee.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the