Category：Finance

German chancellor promises solution as TSMC subsidy hangs in limbo

The future of Germany’s subsidy for TSMC is now in question. The German government had promised 5 billion euros to TSMC, which is set to build a semiconductor plant in Saxony. But earlier this month, Germany’s top court ruled that it was unconstitutional for the government to pay for such projects using its pandemic fund. Amid uncertainty over the fate of the subsidy, Germany’s chancellor and economic affairs chief have vowed to quickly find a solution. Here in Taiwan, an expert weighs in.

Nobunaga Chai
Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association
For TSMC, it’s just a plant for 28/22 nanometer processes, but the German government and even the EU very much want TSMC to set up a plant in Germany. So I think this problem will absolutely be resolved with time. The EU is very likely to take the cue from TSMC’s model in Japan. There could potentially be a 5 nanometer plant and a 3 nanometer plant in Europe, and subsidies will continue to be offered. But this requires TSMC to be able to move its technology, its production capacity, and even its talent to Europe.

To expand its chip industry, the EU has actively courted TSMC since more than two years ago. Experts believe that Germany will make TSMC’s subsidy a priority as it works to resolve its budget challenge.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-28

Latest trends 5G and AI applications in Taiwan

Today we take you to see the latest 5G and AI applications, which include products for hospitals, construction sites, and police. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the highlights.

This 5G smart trolley delivers meals to patients, reducing the burden on manpower and the risk of cross-infection. The trolley is equipped with screens, sensors, lifting platforms, disinfection systems, and heat preservation systems. It utilizes a real-time app to monitor and manage patient meal nutrition plans. Students and faculty from Overseas Chinese University developed this smart application for hospitals.

Huang Chin-hua
Faculty
We applied 5G and big data, and even designed the trolley model. When delivering meals, there is an app for patients and another app for medical staff. The patient can see his own information and the nutritional value of his meals. Through the app, the patient can alert medical staff to any food allergies. We can also solve the traditional paper-based method of collecting patient information. Through this method, we can help the hospital integrate information and reduce manpower issues.

Yang Shih-chan
Student
There is a sensor in the front that can be used to scan the patient’s hospital band, to identify the patient’s meal. The sensor can also measure the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, etc., and will transmit it to this platform for family members that are keeping track. The doctor can know the patient’s condition. There is also an ultraviolet sterilization function that will sterilize the place it passes by.

Another 5G application uses AI to detect whether an unauthorized person has entered a construction site. It can also detect whether workers are wearing a safety helmet.

Huang Chun-chin
Company manager
When the system detects an unauthorized worker entering the venue, it will activate an alarm. At the same time, a message will be sent to the person in charge. Secondly, the system ensures basic security in public areas and that people are wearing a safety helmet.

Huang Chun-chin’s team also produced a road-safety system that detects traffic, road conditions, and whether a car has violated regulations.

Huang Chun-chin
Company manager
The two live videos you see now are from the Freeway Bureau. The current traffic is shown on this screen. The camera not only lets us know the road conditions, but at the same time, you will find that it knows what kind of car you have and whether it’s complying with road laws. This is a solution we provided to police. It can help ease manpower strain.

These innovations were showcased at a 5G exhibition organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in November. With the rise of 5G and AI, businesses in Taiwan are harnessing the technologies to solve pressing problems.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-28

Cisco survey finds only 19% of Taiwan business ready for AI

AI is rising as a transformative force, but is Taiwan ready for the new technology? Not quite, according to a new survey. Cisco, a U.S.-based networking company, surveyed 8,000 private companies around the world. It found that in Taiwan, only 19% of businesses are fully prepared to deploy AI. These companies are mainly in high tech, manufacturing, finance, and health care. Sixty-eight percent of Taiwan respondents believed they had one year at the most to implement an AI strategy, before their organization is severely negatively affected.

Steven Lin
Cisco Taiwan general manager
Currently the main deficit is in the effective use of AI, the fact of analyzing enterprise information and translating that to a new market and sales direction, to create new markets and businesses. Companies are more likely to see success if they can apply AI in such a way.

Dave West
Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China president
As we get further along in the AI journey, countries will start to look at their readiness around AI, because I think it will determine their competitiveness on the world stage. The type of applications they can develop, how they leverage AI for business and productivity.

Cisco found that businesses felt pressure to deploy AI technology from every stakeholder group, including leadership teams. The majority of businesses believe that AI will have a significant impact on their future business operations.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-28

Designs from Chiayi and Hangzhou inspire ‘765km of Love on the Runway’

Liu Yu-chi has always loved designing clothes, and now boasts her very own fashion label. As the child of a Taiwanese father and a Chinese mother, Liu wanted to express her dual identities through design. She found inspiration in Chiayi’s Alishan and West Lake in Hangzhou for one collection, even incorporating Minsyong’s famous pineapples. Through these six designs, Liu tells the story of her family.

Liu Yu-chi’s family is wearing the six outfits she created, her brother and sister posing like professional models. The creative designs combine elements of West Lake in her mother’s hometown of Hangzhou with those from her father’s home of Chiayi. Through their fusion, the love shared between them is clear.

Liu Yu-chi
Fashion designer
For this one I mainly used printed train and mountain motifs from Alishan, as well as West Lake, willow trees and pavilions from Hangzhou. I chose green and purple mainly because they are the most moderate on the color wheel, neither cool nor warm. This represents our own neutrality. No one is particularly good or bad, we just have our own personalities.

Liu calls the series “756km of Love on the Runway” for the distance between Hangzhou and Chiayi.

Liu Yu-chi
Fashion designer
When sliced, pineapple looks a lot like the sun. I used slices because we’re always very positive and sunny. I also chose it because pineapple is sweet and sour and sometimes a little sharp. This symbolizes how life is sometimes sweet and sometimes sour, but taken together it’s all wonderful.

In 2022, Liu’s series won an award in the entrepreneurship category from the immigration agency’s “Building Dreams” project for new residents and their children.

Liu Yu-chi
Fashion designer
The way we speak, our accents, our dialects and our food are all different. Acceptance came naturally from a young age. We learned to empathize with others. This is my greatest takeaway from being raised in an immigrant family.

Exploring and melding one’s roots is at the heart of what it means to be second generation. For Liu, what’s most important is making these ideas a reality.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-28

Chipmakers mull price cuts as China expands chip capacity

TSMC may cut prices by 2% on mature processes starting next year. Other Taiwan foundries could reduce prices by up to 20%. The price cut rumors come as China ramps up its chip production capacity, with 32 new fabs to launch by next year. The fabs, once operational, could undercut the market with lower prices. According to industry reports, Taiwan chipmakers are acting now to secure clients in advance.

TSMC has the most advanced processes on the market, in products ranging from satellite chips to biochips. Reports suggest that starting next year, it may offer a 2% discount on some of its mature processes.

Hsiao Jui-hsun
Analyst
The drop in TSMC shares is due to several factors. The first is the possibility of a price reduction for mature processes next year. That may have caused the slight reaction today.

TSMC has yet to comment on the price cut rumors. But its stock opened down on Monday, amid China’s aggressive semiconductor push. China has 44 chip plants and plans to launch 32 more by the end of next year, all targeting mature processes. Once the new plants are operational, chip supply is expected to explode, leading to price wars. According to sources, Taiwan chip makers like TSMC, UMC, Advanced Micro Devices and PSMC are under pressure to cut prices now to secure clients in advance.

Nobunaga Chai
Semiconductor industry analyst
We think that the majority of these requests for lower prices come from IC designers and system companies. They are pushing for lower prices from chip foundries to relieve some of the profit pressures they are facing.

With a commercial threat on the rise, Taiwan manufacturers are lowering prices now, aiming to retain clients before Chinese chips flood the market.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-27

Six major stadiums boost property prices

The Asian Baseball Championship will kick off next Sunday at Taipei Dome, attracting big crowds and major retail business. Due to the business opportunity they bring, stadiums like Taipei Dome have driven up property prices in their neighborhoods. Of the six major stadiums in Taiwan, Hsinchu County Stadium has given the biggest price boost: an 80% increase in five years.

Charlene Chang
Real estate agent
Over the past five years in Hsinchu, both the livability and job opportunities have been improving. This has driven development in the local property market. Recreational facilities and major infrastructure like this are big plusses for livability.

Chen Tai-yuan
Real estate agent
Crowds bring cash, so business opportunities from events and corporate investment are expected to increase. Of course, many businesses will then set up shop in the surrounding commercial area to do business.

The second-highest price boost was achieved by Kaohsiung Arena, which brought the market up by 41.7%. As for Taipei Dome, it ranks fourth out of six, having brought prices 15% higher.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-27

Tsai thanks multinational investors at Taiwan Business Alliance Conference

The economics ministry held its 2023 Taiwan Business Alliance Conference on Monday. President Tsai Ing-wen attended the investment forum and presented appreciation awards to investors from the U.S., EU, and Japan. She noted that many large multinationals were expanding their Taiwan presence, proof of Taiwan’s reliability as a business partner.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
…these world-leading companies have chosen Taiwan to expand their projects is a testament to Taiwan’s reputation as a reliable and secure partner in the semiconductor supply chain. …Without a doubt, Taiwan has many strengths and advantages that make it an attractive place for doing business.

Wang Mei-hua
Economics minister
The global geopolitical landscape is rapidly changing and the Taiwan Strait has become a focus of global attention. My ministry will also continue to collaborate with the industry to maintain Taiwan’s critical position in the global supply chain.

Over the past few years, companies like ASML, Lam Research, and Merck have opened new facilities in Taiwan. Just this month, Japanese companies committed to investing NT$10 billion. Tsai said that global business confidence in Taiwan was growing, and that the government was working to make Taiwan an even more favorable investment destination.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-27

A famous bookstore closes after 35 years, while another is to close next month

With interest in ebooks growing, fewer people are spending time browsing the shelves of bookstores nowadays, and bookstores are undergoing changes to adapt. After 35 years in operation, Kingstone bookstore’s Yongkang Street location in Taipei closed on Sunday. Meanwhile, Eslite bookstore’s location in the city’s Xinyi District will close on Christmas Eve after 18 years of selling books.

Member of the public
In the future when I have kids, I’ll tell them that this building used to be an Eslite bookstore.

Member of the public
I came up from Taichung to see it one last time.

Member of the public
I came here today specially for this. Of course, it’s a shame that it’s closing, but technology is changing.

Lee Shih-chen
Financial expert
These days the bookstore is only able to sell things like stationery or sporting goods. Revenue and foot traffic are probably more than 40% less than those of 30 years ago. In the future, this space will be used as a center for cultural exchanges, and will gradually come to host events such as reading clubs and literary discussions.

Kingstone said as consumer habits change, the integration of online and brick and mortar stores will become the trend. Next year, the company plans to open five to 10 more stores, but larger stores are to be a thing of the past.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-26

Election gives landlords respite from the tough business rental market

The election is providing landlords with respite from the tough business rental market. Many politicians have rented out premises that have long been disused, as headquarters for their campaign activities. We spoke to a member of the team of Luo Chih-cheng, who struggled to find a short-term rental at first. But when another business collapsed, its landlord was only too happy to have the campaign move in. Meanwhile, a prominent yet long-vacant store in Taipei has been adopted as one of Terry Gou’s many petition stations.

Boxes of promotional materials are delivered to a political campaign team. This premises on Xianmin Boulevard in Banqiao District, New Taipei, was chosen as HQ by lawmaker Luo Chih-cheng for the final election push. The team was searching for over two months to find premises.

Shen Chung-hao
Luo Chih-cheng campaign manager
Honestly, a lot of landlords are very unwilling to do short-term lets. This building was occupied by another business, and it happened to have some operational difficulties, so the landlord terminated the contract. It was just at the same time as we were looking for an HQ, so we took the space on.

It’s a boon for the landlord that Luo’s team has swooped into this building. The previous tenant, a pawn shop, ran into trouble and got into rental arrears. But the upcoming election has saved this landlord from a headache. Meanwhile, lots of premises in Taipei City are sitting stagnant. But one store on a bustling street, empty for the last three years, has finally been rented by Terry Gou’s campaign team as a petition station.

Wei Hsiu-ho
Guangwu Borough chief, Taipei City
The rent is probably around NT$850,000. Since the last tenant left three years ago, it’s been out of use. We have some stores we can’t let out on Zhongxiao East Road. They’re all let to discount retailers. But now we could let this to a political candidate, and at least that means the landlord can get the rent on time.

Huang Shu-wei
Real estate rental market expert
In the revision phase, there is very little demand for this kind of high-priced unit. But we see that this short-term demand of three or six months, these temporary tenants for high prices, have certainly managed to quench the thirst of landlords in the short term.

As the election draws closer, many disused premises have found a fresh lease of life as campaign venues. The short-term rentals give landlords a break from the burden of maintaining empty buildings.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-23

Executive Yuan approves NT$5,000 a semester dorm subsidy

The Executive Yuan has approved a subsidy program for college dorm fees. Starting next February, each student will receive NT$5,000 per semester for on-campus housing. Students won’t need to apply for the subsidy, which will be applied automatically to their bills.

Chu Chun-chang
MOE Department of Higher Education
The interior ministry’s housing fund will transfer the funds to the Ministry of Education. We will then send 90% of the subsidy in advance to universities. The schools will subtract NT$5,000 from the student’s bill each semester. For economically disadvantaged students, NT$7,000 will be deducted. Students will only need to pay the amount that remains afterward.

At about 80% of Taiwan colleges, on-campus housing costs between NT$5,000 and NT$15,000 each semester. Only a minority of schools charge more than NT$15,000. This means that the new subsidy will take housing costs to less than NT$10,000 per semester for 80% of college students. The five-year program will cost NT$2.8 billion a year and benefit an estimated 275,000 students.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-23