Showcasing Taiwan’s Smart City Initiatives

Article By : Stephen Las Marias

Jointly organized by the Taipei Computer Association (TCA), the Kaohsiung City government, and the National Development Council (NDC), the 11th Smart City Summit and Expo (SCSE) held March 19–22 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2, and March 21–23 at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center put into the spotlight Taiwan’s smart city and net-zero city solutions developments over the past decade, and how Taiwan is collaborating with countries worldwide to advance smart city and net-zero transition initiatives.

During his opening remarks, TCA Chairman Paul SL Peng said this year’s event, with the theme “Digital and Green Transformation,” has set a record, with a 13% growth compared to the previous year. The Taipei and Kaohsiung exhibition areas featured a total of 600 exhibitors using 2,200 booths, showcasing smart city applications in transportation, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, security, and net-zero emissions.

The SCSE welcomed 495 government delegates from 46 countries and regions, representing 112 cities. This year’s almost 2,200 attendees also set a record, which included around 85 mayors and deputy mayors and about 1,700 international professional buyers. The largest visiting delegation, which came from Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, underlined the increasing economic ties between Taiwan and the New Southbound countries.

Focus on 5G and AI

Over the past two years, the organizers have focused on highlighting applications enabled by emerging technologies such as 5G and AIoT. However, with the global AI boom fueled by OpenAI, various AI applications have diffused across industries.

Taiwan is already a part of the global AI hardware supply chain. This year, the organizers have set up an AI+ Zone to connect the content displayed by the Administration for Digital Industries of the Ministry of Digital Affairs’ AI-themed pavilion, as well as the AI ​​displays of all companies. This includes exhibits from Chunghwa Telecom, Far EasTone Telecom, Foxconn, Acer, Taiwan Web Service, SYSCOM, Shin Kong Security, MiTAC, and Ennoconn.

However, one cannot dismiss the critical role that 5G plays in enabling AI applications. 5G’s three main characteristics—high speed, wide connectivity, and low latency—can be widely applied to smart cities, smart transportation, as well as create enterprise-specific networks for smart factories, smart retail, smart healthcare, smart hospitals, smart warehousing, autonomous vehicles, and vehicle-to-everything communication. And with the increasingly comprehensive network infrastructure and commercial equipment, the application of enterprise 5G private networks is expected to show rapid growth

Among key exhibitors powering the 5G growth in Taiwan are telco providers Chunghwa Telecom and Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET), who are utilizing their expansive network and technology prowess to diversify and provide services that promote 5G-powered, AI-enabled smart city and net- zero initiatives.

Chunghwa Telecom, for instance, showcased how it is enabling Smart Transportation as well as Smart Industrial Park solutions.

Meanwhile, under the theme “Driving Towards a Green and Sustainable Future with Big Data, AI, IoT, and Practical Experience in Digital Skills,” FET synchronized with Taipei and Kaohsiung to showcase various local applications and illustrate a diverse range of scenarios and solutions.

These showcases included microgrids, smart meters, EV charging services, UPS, and other net-zero-resilience city applications. Additionally, FET highlighted digital transformation solutions such as 5G telemedicine, energy management system (EMS) for enterprises, smart buildings, multi-cloud integration, and e-governance.

Taiwan Web Service Corp. (TWSC), a subsidiary of ASUS, has built Taiwan’s most powerful national supercomputers, including Taiwania 2, as well as the large-scale cloud platform deployment and operational expertise of Taiwania 3 and Taiwania 4.

With extensive experience in AI and High-Performance Computing (AIHPC) deployment, TWSC and its parent company ASUS are collaborating to provide an end-to-end total data center solution to help build smart city AI infrastructure, platform, and applications.

Another PC maker that is widening its reach to help promote smart cities and support Taiwan’s net zero goals is Acer Group, whose subsidiary Acer ITS Inc. showcased smart roadside parking systems that promote EV charging and multi-payment solutions.

Last but not least, Taiwan Secom Co. Ltd, one of the leaders in Taiwan’s security technology industry and a pioneer in smart city services, showcased its smart city services, which incorporate smart care, AI big data analysis, smart parking management, and unmanned drone surveillance, to reach into every aspect of people’s daily lives. Demonstrations included CCTV monitoring, and fire detection and prevention systems.

“The omnipresence of AI is the most important feature of this year’s exhibition,” said Charles YP Huang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Taipei Computer Association.

Now on its 11th year, the SCSE provides a platform to promote Taiwan’s range of technologies and innovations and encourage collaboration between different countries to move towards the goal of smart cities and achieve net zero.