MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The AI-driven Self-Navigating Miniature Serpentine Robotic System (AiSNMSR), developed by ITRI, addresses key challenges in Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) such as limited operational space, small orifice diameters, excessive bleeding, and risks associated with punctures, infections, and inefficient cleaning. This award-winning system integrates omnidirectional bending, real-time tactile/haptic feedback, self-navigation, and modular tool-swapping capabilities, allowing surgeons to perform precise, efficient, and safe procedures with ease.

AiSNMSR is composed of a main controller, a navigation module with tactile/haptic sensing, an endoscope equipped with a CMOS camera, and additional devices customized for specific medical applications. The system provides surgeons with tactile/haptic feedback for precise navigation and mimics human tactile perception, enhancing operational control. The flexibility of our robotic endoscope allows omnidirectional bending up to 210 degrees. Additionally, our AI-enhanced processing provides real-time imaging data for accurate positioning, obstacle recognition, and environmental adaptation, ensuring both safety and precision during surgery.

The AiSNMSR system could be used in a wide range of surgical fields, such as gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, urology, colorectal surgery, neurosurgery, and gastrointestinal surgery, with the capabilities to reduce postoperative pain, shorten recovery times, minimize complications, increase surgical success rates, and improve overall patient outcomes. The system has been validated through collaboration with the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at National Taiwan University Hospital, and this innovative robotic system represents a leap forward in minimally invasive surgical technology.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

ITRI’s MOSAIC (Memory-cube Operability in a Stacked AI Chip for Generative AI) won a 2024 R&D 100 Award in the IT/Electrical category. MOSAIC offers a solution to address the cost and scalability challenges associated with AI/GAI chips. It integrates logic computation and memory, enabling a flexible and scalable 3D stacking technology. MOSAIC’s innovative 3D stacking chip design significantly reduces the transmission distance between chips from micrometers (micrometre) to nanometers (nm), cutting heat generation by 90% and reducing costs by 80%. With modular, multi-layer, and scalable features, it meets the application needs of various AI products, ranging from portable devices and edge computing units to HPC servers. By employing flexible and more efficient wafer manufacturing solutions, AI systems can achieve enhanced performance and deployment capabilities while concurrently lowering energy consumption.

MOSAIC was developed in collaboration with PSMC (Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation), a semiconductor foundry that specializes in providing wafer manufacturing services for both logic and memory applications. The prototype of MOSAIC was created from two 12-inch wafers fabricated utilizing PSMC’s 40nm logic and 25nm DRAM processes. It employs wafer stacking technology to simultaneously transfer data between logic circuits and DRAM.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The tapping process of Basic Oxygen Furnace (BoF) in the steel industry has numerous bottlenecks and obstacles, including energy use, carbon emissions, constant equipment or technology updates, and labor-intensive processes. ITRI and China Steel Corporation developed the Digital Twin System for the Tapping Process (DiTwS-TP) solution specifically for improving the tapping process. This system utilizes six intelligence-base models that are based on prior experience, AI-module and simulation results. The main purpose of this system is to increase transparency in the tapping process and assist tapping operators in precisely controlling the process.

DiTwS-TP is software that accurately predicts the behavior of liquid steel. By simulating and monitoring production processes, it optimizes efficiency and minimizes costs. Its predictive capabilities enable preemptive optimization of turntable procedures, revolutionizing steel manufacturing with enhanced quality control. The taping process digital twin environment is a system that combines virtual and real-time simulation to provide a synchronized experience. Unlike the previous traditional manufacturing method, which had issues with labor consumption, difficulty in transferring experience, and probable manufacturing failures, this simulation system can be employed in the current system.

By building a digital twin model of the equipment, manufacturers can track its operating status in real time, collect various sensor data, and use artificial intelligence algorithms to predict faults and preventive maintenance, thereby reducing the equipment failure rate and increasing productivity. By using digital twins for simulation training and safety management, workers can gain a deeper understanding of production equipment and operating procedures, thereby improving workplace safety and efficiency.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

With shrinking transistor sizes, a shift from 2D to 3D structures, and the adoption of metal materials in 2nm chip production, the limitations of current optical measurement become more apparent. Consequently, critical dimensions cannot be accurately measured, directly impacting yield and leading to poor outcomes. The In-Line X-Ray Critical Dimension Metrology System (XRCD) is a specialized system utilized in the semiconductor manufacturing industry for the purpose of measuring critical dimensions using X-ray technology. During semiconductor manufacturing processes, these systems commonly monitor the dimensions and configuration of microstructures to ensure that the produced components meet specified specifications and yield.

ITRI and NanoSeeX have developed the first In-Line X-Ray Critical Dimension Metrology System (XRCD). A perfect balance between measurement area ( 1 micrometre) can be achieved with sufficient signal intensity by combining with highly efficient focusing optical with a specific soft X-ray wavelength. Additionally, utilizing an exclusive background subtraction patent, specific target signals can be extracted and analyzed from complex spatial signals generated by three-dimensional structures.

In signal analysis, NanoSeeX has pioneered the integration of interference signals from interface reflections and high order mode signal techniques, along with multi-physics models. This approach, compared to traditional Fourier transform signal analysis, not only enables more precise thickness measurements but also reduces correlations between fitting parameters in complex 3D structures. With AI-driven machine learning, the measurement accuracy of 3D complex structure CD can reach

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

CO2 Fixing Polycarbonate (FCO2PC) technology produces high performance polycarbonate using CO2 captured from factory combustion flue gas. This non-petroleum-based material significantly reduces carbon emissions. The FCO2PC process is energy efficient and all chemicals in the process are nontoxic, recycled and generate no harmful pollutants.

As the global polycarbonate market size continues to increase, the use of captured CO2 as a chemical raw material to produce polymers has an obvious ecological advantage over conventional polymers. The entire process of FCO2PC is close looped, zero waste and nontoxic. The technological breakthrough is the sophisticated catalysts used in carefully designed quantities and with unique physical properties. It solves the common environmental problems in traditional processes, avoids toxic chemical feedstock, and recycles all solvents and wastewater. In partnership with Chi Mei Corporation, FCO2PC is undergoing field testing and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 17%, or 178,500 metric tons annually.

FCO2PC was invented to solve challenges in both carbon capture and storage in one process. It is a production process that uses the captured CO2 from combustion flue gas as raw material and through esterification and transesterification, producing polycarbonate for commercial use. FCO2PC matches BPA polycarbonate in quality and is suitable for a wide range of applications, including safety helmets, phone cases, headlamp covers, eye protection and more.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The 2024 R&D 100 Awards saw Taiwan achieve its best record in history, winning 15 awards, making it the top winner in Asia and second globally. The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) won eight awards, the Institute for Information Industry (III) received three awards, the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI) earned three awards, and the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre took home one award. The award-winning technologies align with global trends, focusing on semiconductors, ICT, net-zero emissions, and AI ecosystems, showcasing abundant research and development achievements. In particular, Taiwan made remarkable progress in AI and net-zero technologies, demonstrating the country’s outstanding and internationally competitive innovation capabilities.

This year, nine of the award-winning technologies have already entered partnerships with industry players, serving as a gateway for these technologies and driving industrial value. The list of award-winning technologies reveals the global direction in areas such as semiconductors, ICT, net-zero emissions, and AI ecosystem applications. For instance, ITRI’s collaboration with Powerchip Semiconductor on a 3D AI chip has reduced power consumption by 90% and increased data speed by eight times. Additionally, ITRI’s carbon capture and utilization technology, developed in partnership with Chi Mei Corporation, is undergoing field testing and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 17%, or 178,500 metric tons annually. These achievements align with government policies and reflect global development priorities. Notably, AI applications have seen significant success this year, accounting for 6 out of the 14 awarded technologies. These innovations span fields such as healthcare, traffic safety, energy management, industrial processes, and defect inspection, demonstrating Taiwan’s advancement in AI across various industries and its critical role in the global supply chain.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Kaohsiung-Pingtung Branch of the Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held an “Innovation Tea Party” on September 9, 2024, to celebrate the anniversary. The event invited chairpersons of factory associations and key enterprises from several industrial parks, such as Yongan, Dashe, Renwu, and Fengshan, Linhai, Dafa, Linyuan-Pingtung, Neipu, Pingnan, and Pingtoung Technology Industrial Parks to exchange ideas and provide suggestions, aiming to push forward sustainable development. After the meeting, around 400 representatives from various companies participated in a pop-up event in front of the administration building, forming the BIP’s emblem, symbolizing the collective intelligence to shape the future.
You Shu-hui, the director of the Kaohsiung-Pingtung Branch of BIPs, said that in 2023, the Executive Yuan promoted organizational restructuring, and on September 26, the MOEA and its subordinate agencies officially unveiled the restructured system. This included merging the “Export Processing Zone Administration” and the “Industrial Parks Division of the Industrial Development Bureau” to establish the “Bureau of Industrial Parks.”
The BIP is responsible for managing national technology industrial parks and industrial parks, primarily focusing on park development, attracting investments, supporting enterprises, and promoting environmental sustainability. Managing an area of 33,000 hectares, which accounts for more than 75% of the country’s industrial land, the BIPs has established four branches in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung-Pingtung to provide immediate services to enterprises. By implementing various service measures, the BIP aims to optimize the business environment and promote industrial development.
The BIPs stated that the establishment of the new bureau would enhance resource integration and boost the injection of resources into the parks. In the future, the BIPs will strive to achieve the goals of providing high-quality spaces, helping businesses upgrade, supporting low-carbon sustainability, advancing smart services, and creating happier workplaces–all in line with the vision of “intelligence, safety, and sustainability.” The parks will continue to drive regional development and create economic prosperity.

Contact Person: Ding, Shi-De (the Kaohsiung-Pingtung Branch, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-823-9361, 0935828158
Email: alan@bip.gov.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

According to the statistics, 1,692 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total amount of US$5,835,450,000 were approved from January to September 2024. This indicates a decrease of 0.29% in the number of cases, and a decrease of 26.82% in FDI amount compared to the same period of 2023.

With regard to inward investment from Mainland China, 27 cases were approved with an amount of US$16,917,000 from January to September 2024. This indicates an increase of 28.57% in the number of cases, but a decrease of 36.35% in the FDI amount compared to the same period of 2023. From July 2009 to September 2024, 1,613 cases were approved with a total investment amount added up to US$2,612,863,000.

In terms of Taiwan’s outbound investment (excluding Mainland China), 539 projects were registered from January to September 2024 with a total amount of US$41,561,939,000, indicating an increase of 30.19% in the number of cases, and an increase of 137.75% in the amount, as compared to the same period of 2023.

As for Taiwan’s outward investment to Mainland China, 274 applications have been approved from January to September 2024, indicating an increase of 10.04% compared to the same period of 2023. The approved investment amount is US$3,336,337,000, 31.93% more than the same period in 2023.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 5:51PM by PIB Delhi

Government is reviewing the financial performance of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) at national and regional levels. The agenda items for the review meetings, inter-alia, include:

1. Review of the performance of RRBs on Financial Parameters and technology upgradation.
2. Thrust on Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) portfolio.
3. Importance on loan diversification towards Agri-allied, MSME and Retail Sectors. 

 Financial health of RRBs has improved in the recent years as they have posted highest ever consolidated net profit of ₹ 7,571 crore during FY 2023-24. Also, the RRBs have shown consistent improvement in key financial parameters like CRAR, deposits, advances, NPA, CD ratio etc. The Key Financial Parameters of RRBs have improved consistently in past years. The Total Balance sheet Size of RRBs have increased from Rs. 7,04,556 Crore in FY 2021- 22 to Rs. 8,40,080 Crore in FY 2023-24. Further the Net NPA has declined from 4.7% in FY 2021- 22 to 2.4%  in FY 2023-24. Also the Credit to Deposit Ratio has increased from 64.5% to 71.4% from FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24.

Government has also reviewed the progress made by RRBs in deepening financial inclusion in rural and remote areas by reviewing performance on various financial inclusion schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana etc.

This information was given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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