7 Taiwan start-ups win innovation awards at CES

Taipei, Jan. 8 (CNA) Seven start-ups from Taiwan won awards for innovation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, one of the largest electronics exhibitions in the world, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

The ministry said the start-ups, which won the 2022 CES Innovation Awards, are: RT Stream International, Yun yun AI Baby camera, Mindtronic AI, Mbran Filtra, GRAID Technology, ELECLEAN, and VMFi Inc.

They earned the awards in six major categories of innovation -- Smart Cities, Wearable Technology, Health & Wellness, Sustainability, Eco-Design & Smart Energy, Fitness & Sports, Computer Peripherals & Accessories, the MOST said.

A total of 100 Taiwanese start-ups attended the 2022 CES, which opened on Jan. 5 and ran through Jan. 8.

The Taiwanese companies' aim was to demonstrate their efforts in advancing innovations. The number of companies made Taiwan the country that sent the second largest number of start-ups to the exhibition, trailing only France, the MOST said.

The 100 Taiwanese start-ups comprised 27 companies specializing in smart medical care; 25 in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; 25 in semiconductor, space and communications; and 23 in digital technologies.

They participated in this year's CES either physically or virtually amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to the ministry.

Those that attended the exhibition in person showcased their innovations under the pavilions "Eureka Park" and "Taiwan Tech Arena" (TTA) at the CES's innovation exhibition area. The TTA initiative is a platform under the ministry aimed at cultivating tech startups by helping them raise funds to grow.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the TTA's pavilion, Hsu Tseng-ju (許增如), head of the MOST's Department of Academia Industry Collaboration and Science Park Affairs, who led the 100 Taiwanese start-ups to the 2022 CES, said it was the fourth time for the TTA to lead Taiwanese start-ups to the Las Vegas trade show.

The ministry set up the TTA initiatives in 2018 when the innovation platform led only 32 start-ups to the CES, and the number has grown to 100 this year.

Hsu said the winning of the awards at the CES showed that Taiwan's innovation capability, helped by the TTA's determination to lend full support for Taiwanese start-ups, was gaining international recognition.

He added that the COVID-19 pandemic not only posed risks but also created business opportunities for Taiwanese start-ups and that it was time for Taiwan to push for industrial transformation and to cultivate its talent pool.

To boost Taiwan's visibility in innovations on the global market, the ministry has also worked with firms in the Silicon Valley of the United States, to integrate resources between Taiwan and the prominent American tech region.

In July, the TTA opened an office -- TTA-SV -- in the Silicon Valley, which is keen to provide necessary assistance to any Taiwanese start-up eyeing the U.S. market.

In addition, the ministry has also kicked off the "LEAP Program" to send Taiwan's high-quality talents to various corporations, start-ups, or research institutes in the U.S. for six to 12 months of learning, so that they can return to Taiwan to make contributions.

This year, the ministry launched the X-Talent program which will send talent in digital transformation, precision healthcare, space and sports technology to the Silicon Valley for six to 12 months.