The 3rd Taiwan Tech Summit took place on September 14 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley, bringing together more than 100 industry associations from the U.S. and drawing participation from over a hundred industry leaders. The summit included various activities such as innovation forums, discussions on industry trends, a “Taiwan Demo Day” showcasing startups, a Career Expo, and ample networking opportunities. According to the organizers, the event attracted over 5,000 attendees in person and engaged more than 500,000 online participants.
Hosted by the TaiwanNext Foundation and co-hosted by organizations like the Taiwan Data Science Meetup, Meet Global, the Northern California Alumni Association of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and the Career Taiwan USA Association, this event served as a vibrant hub for technology and innovation.
In her opening remarks, Summit Chair and Executive Director of the TaiwanNext Foundation, Sue Hsieh, emphasized the mission to connect Taiwanese professionals across borders, industries, and generations, aimed at strengthening the Taiwanese ecosystem in the U.S.
This year’s theme, “Emerging,” focused on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biomedicine, and human-machine interfaces. It also covered key topics like innovative investment and female leadership, featuring insights from global experts, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs on how AI is driving innovation and revitalizing Taiwan’s tech landscape.
Kuan Chi-Yi, co-founder of the Taiwan Data Science Meetup, underscored the necessity of continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies to stay competitive in the AI era. “We hope the Taiwan Tech Summit serves as a bridge for global tech collaboration, embracing innovations that significantly impact industry development,” he stated.
Zhu Yong-Chang, Deputy Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, remarked on Silicon Valley’s status as the world’s leading high-tech center, noting Taiwan’s essential role in the global high-tech supply chain, particularly in high-end chip manufacturing. He pointed out Taiwan’s transformation efforts to become Asia’s Silicon Valley and mentioned the job creation spurred by AI applications, framing this as an ideal moment for discussions on relevant topics. He expressed gratitude to the organizers and co-hosts for providing a vibrant platform for Taiwanese professionals to share insights and experiences regarding new trends, which he believes will foster greater creativity and innovation.
Keynote speakers included Sue Lin, Vice President of Product Operations at Cisco, and Harrison Tang, CEO and co-founder of Spokeo. Lin shared her perspectives on leadership in the rapidly changing tech landscape, while Tang focused on innovation and transformation in the age of generative AI.
Hsieh highlighted the diversity of this year’s forums, catering to various talent needs across different sectors. In light of the recent downturn in Silicon Valley’s tech market and the subsequent influx of talent, the summit aims to assist attendees in securing job opportunities. Beyond the talent exchange, high-level tech executives participated in roundtable discussions, providing students with valuable insights into workplace knowledge and industry expertise.
Additionally, the organizers expanded the Taiwan Demo Day, featuring 16 promising startup teams from the U.S. and Taiwan across areas like AI, hardware, enterprise software and services, and biotechnology. These teams not only showcased their innovations but also interacted with leading investment firms in Silicon Valley during their demonstrations.
