Where to find entrepreneurial opportunities? They can be found from electromagnetic waves, especially at the application level, where different wavelengths can be utilized at different times for different application extensions, thus further stimulating entrepreneurial inspiration, according to Kenneth Tai, chairman of the Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association (PIDA).
As a renowned entrepreneur and venture capitalist in Taiwan, Tai is among founders of Acer and now also chairs InveStar Capital. He also served as chairman at Chief Telecom and Richtek Technology.
During the PIDA-organized OPTO Taiwan 2023, held October 25-27 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Tai said electromagnetic waves provide an important direction for exploring entrepreneurship opportunities. He continued that electromagnetic waves have a a wide spectrum, and can be broadly categorized into different bands, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays, which can be used in a large number of application fields.
In modern life, wireless televisions, wireless broadcasts, mobile communications, meteorological satellites, satellite positioning systems, intelligent transportation systems, and X-ray machines all have to use electromagnetic waves of different frequencies, which not only provide convenience in life, but also promote different types of commercial activities and industrial development. As such, it is evident that electromagnetic waves have played an indispensable role in the scientific and technological life, according to Tai.
Under high-speed transmission, Tai is optimistic about the development of low-earth-orbit satellites. He also believes that Taiwan has great advantage in developing silicon photonics, one of the highlights of the OPTO Taiwan 2023 and attracting a record number of attendees at a related forum.
Co-packaged optics
Tai pointed out that the industry currently uses silicon chips to produce computing components, but if optical waveguides can be integrated in the future to enable silicon chips to simultaneously process both electrical and optical signals, it will not only reduce the mass production cost but also boost the chip performance. In this regard, co-packaged optics (CPO) uses silicon photonics as a platform to package all electrical and optical signals and components, unlike traditional packaging focusing on electrical ICs.
Since silicon photonics is an extension of silicon, Taiwan has an absolute advantage in mass production due to the semiconductor cluster effect. Tai believes that silicon photonics will become an important technology platform in the future, and related industry players will have great opportunities for market development.
Tai stressed that Taiwan is the place with the highest density of electromagnetic wave application in the world, and is also a real "silicon" valley. OPTO Taiwan used to focus on displays in the past, but in 2023 it also highlights SiC and GaN compound semiconductors and silicon photonics, aiming to extend the main axis of the exhibition to the applications of both electromagnetic and optical waves.
However, to keep up with the development of forward-looking technologies, basic science is still needed as a foundation. Tai pointed out that in terms of basic science, physics, chemistry and materials are indispensable, and in terms of applications, mathematical abilities should be strengthened. Therefore, he disclosed, PIDA has also initiated a STEM creativity contest in high schools in the hope of sowing the seeds of applied science and technology among young students.
