TAIPEI (TVBS News) — SEMICON Taiwan 2024 opened Wednesday (Sept. 4) at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, featuring over 1,100 exhibitors and a focus on cutting-edge technology. The annual semiconductor industry expo is expected to draw industry leaders, visionaries, and top executives from around the world. This year's event comes at a time of unprecedented interest in semiconductors, driven by advances in artificial intelligence (AI), geopolitical shifts, and the need for more resilient supply chains.
Ajit Manocha, president and CEO of SEMI, the U.S.-based association that promotes the global semiconductor industry, delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. "AI enabled growth is going to be more than 50% of the growth that we are in for next decade," Manocha said, emphasizing Taiwan's pivotal role in the global semiconductor landscape.
Global Semiconductor Expansion
The semiconductor industry is experiencing rapid growth, and Taiwan is at the center of this expansion. According to Manocha, the global integrated circuit (IC) industry reached US$600 billion in revenue last year after 70 years of development. However, in the next seven to eight years, the industry is projected to hit US$1 trillion. Looking further ahead, the rise of quantum computing could push that figure to four or five trillion by 2050.
Taiwan plays a major role in all of these high-tech areas, Manocha explained, reinforcing the country's importance in the global market. With Taiwan producing around 90% of the world's most advanced chips, it powers essential technologies ranging from cars to supercomputers.
Taiwan's Responsibility in the Semiconductor Industry
Taiwan's leadership in the global semiconductor industry was also a focal point of the opening ceremony. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) addressed the audience, which included foreign delegations and SEMI executives, to highlight Taiwan's critical role in global supply chains.
"Taiwan and its people understand the responsibility we bear in global supply chains, and the Taiwanese government will shoulder the responsibility of making sure to improve the investment and production environments [in the country]," Cho said. His remarks came amid increasing geopolitical pressures that have raised concerns about the resilience of global supply chains.
This year's SEMICON Taiwan event highlights advanced smart manufacturing technologies, green transformations, and the integration of AI with semiconductors. These innovations are critical to Taiwan's strategy for accelerating its growth engine and addressing the challenges of smart and sustainable global manufacturing.
Innovation Amid Global Shifts
As global demand for semiconductors rises, investments and capacity expansions in the industry are diversifying worldwide. Geopolitical shifts, such as the ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions, are also accelerating this diversification, pushing countries to build more resilient supply chains.
Despite these global changes, Taiwan remains a key player. SEMICON Taiwan 2024 reflects Taiwan's ongoing commitment to innovation and leadership in the semiconductor industry. The showcase of smart manufacturing solutions and green technologies underscores Taiwan's collective efforts to push the industry forward.
