As the global semiconductor and high-performance computing (HPC) industries undergo a new wave of transformation, technological cooperation is reshaping international competition. Taiwan and Europe may be geographically distant, yet they have found common ground in technological innovation, talent development, and cross-border collaboration. This exclusive interview delves into these connections.
On 9 December 2024, a delegation from the National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) of Taiwan travelled to Spain, led by Dr Mei-Yu Chang, Director of the International Affairs Office. The delegation, accompanied by leaders from Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, participated in the Semi Impact Forum 2024 – Catalonia Chapter, held in Barcelona.
Professor Konrad Yang, Director of Arculus Lab, who previously served as Director of Research and Development at TSMC for nearly two decades and is recognised as one of the “Six Knights of R&D,” also attended the forum. Drawing on his extensive expertise in semiconductor technology, he opened the forum by sharing insights into Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, particularly the success of TSMC, and provided expert perspectives to guide the subsequent discussions.
Also present was Professor Rui Carlos Oliveira, Director of INESC TEC (Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science) in Portugal, who has extensive experience in international scientific collaboration. A long-time expert in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor research, and supercomputing, he has forged a strong partnership with Taiwan’s NARLabs, working together to advance research in cutting-edge computing and semiconductor technologies.Following the forum, Professor Konrad Yang and Professor Rui Carlos Oliveira sat down for an exclusive interview with The Icons, discussing the potential for collaboration between Taiwan and Europe in semiconductors, AI, and high-performance computing. They also explored how technological advancements transcend borders, driving global innovation forward.
Building International Connections Through the Semiconductor Industry – Kwang-Lei Yang: Taiwan and Europe Should Pursue a Complementary Path
“Taiwan’s long-standing strength in the semiconductor industry comes primarily from manufacturing and design, but we remain weak in upstream equipment and materials.” Professor Konrad Yang stated candidly.
He believes that while Taiwan’s semiconductor industry has traditionally focused on the US market, Europe remains a “forgotten land of opportunity.” “Europe has formidable capabilities in equipment and fundamental research, whereas Taiwan leads in manufacturing and design. This complementary relationship should be further strengthened.”
With the establishment of the Taiwan-Czech Advanced Chip Design Research Centre (ACDRC), collaboration between Taiwan and the Czech Republic has already begun. Now, Yang asserts, this model should be expanded to other European countries. He emphasises that small and medium-sized semiconductor firms may be the key to breaking into the European market:
“Large corporations are often constrained by their existing structures and market strategies, whereas start-ups and mid-sized companies are more agile. They can take the lead in entering the European market and forging deeper partnerships.”
Additionally, Yang argues that Taiwan’s education system must evolve to cultivate talent with a global perspective. “We don’t just need engineers—we need professionals who understand industry development, technological trends, and cross-border collaboration.”
Rui Carlos Oliveira: Distributed Architectures and High-Performance Computing Are the Cornerstones of Global Cooperation
Professor Rui Carlos Oliveira approached the discussion from the perspective of distributed systems and HPC, highlighting the possibilities for global technological collaboration. He believes that distributed architectures will play a pivotal role in future international cooperation, particularly in semiconductors and AI.
“Today’s ICT (Information and Communication Technology) systems are becoming increasingly complex, making cross-border collaboration no longer optional, but essential.” Oliveira noted that Taiwan and Portugal have highly complementary strengths in technology, making their partnership particularly promising:
“Taiwan holds an unrivalled position in semiconductor manufacturing, while Portugal has been investing heavily in semiconductor research and HPC. By working together, we can accelerate innovation and elevate each other’s technological capabilities.”
He highlighted the longstanding partnership between Taiwan’s NARLabs and Portugal’s INESC TEC, which dates back to 2017 and covers fields such as high-performance computing and marine technology. With the rise of AI, their collaboration has expanded further into artificial intelligence applications.
“This collaboration isn’t just about technology; it’s about building cultural understanding and trust. Different countries operate on different investment cycles, but rather than being a challenge, this time difference can create new opportunities for cooperation.”
Oliveira emphasised that global technological collaboration requires more flexible frameworks to accommodate the varying strategies and needs of different nations.
AI and HPC: Bridging the Tech Ecosystems of Europe and Asia
Portugal is rapidly emerging as a key player in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC). At the forum, Professor Rui Carlos Oliveira showcased Portugal’s latest advancements in HPC, emphasising the critical role these technologies play in shaping Europe’s technological ecosystem.
“We are building our core competitiveness in AI and HPC through industry-academia collaboration, government policies, and technological innovation,” he explained. A major strength of Portugal’s tech development lies in its close cooperation between higher education institutions and industry.
This model bears strong similarities to Taiwan’s semiconductor industry ecosystem, which is why Oliveira sees great potential for deepening AI and HPC collaboration between Taiwan and Portugal.
“We can accelerate knowledge exchange through joint research projects, talent development programmes, and industry-academia partnerships. The advancement of AI and HPC requires global cooperation, and that is exactly what we are working towards,” he noted.
Additionally, Oliveira highlighted Portugal’s efforts to build an international network for technological innovation, extending beyond Europe to foster stronger ties with Asian nations.
“The key to cross-border collaboration is an open mindset and a shared vision. We look forward to working with Taiwanese partners to drive technological development and expand market opportunities together,” he stated.
Technological Innovation and Talent Development: Building Global Competitiveness
Talent remains at the heart of technological progress, making it a crucial pillar of Taiwan-Europe collaboration. Professor Konrad Yang stressed that Taiwan needs more interdisciplinary talent to adapt to the evolving tech landscape.
“Our education system has been too focused on specialised fields. In the future, we should encourage more interdisciplinary learning, integrating engineering with humanities, and technology with management,” he suggested. Yang believes that such reforms will help Taiwan maintain its competitive edge in the global market.
Professor Oliveira further pointed out that Portugal’s experience in higher education and industry collaboration could serve as a valuable reference for Taiwan.
“Portugal’s technology talent development programmes are actively connected to the international market, allowing students to participate in cross-border projects and develop a truly global perspective,” he explained.
The Era of Single-Country Competition Is Over
In conclusion, Professor Konrad Yang reflected on how today’s technological competition is no longer confined to rivalry between individual nations but has evolved into a complex landscape of global cooperation and competition.
Professor Oliveira echoed this sentiment, emphasising that despite the geographical distance between Taiwan and Europe, both regions have found common ground in semiconductors, AI, and HPC.
“We are not just technology partners—we are partners in driving global innovation,” they both affirmed in unison.
From semiconductor manufacturing to AI research, from HPC to talent development, this dialogue between the two experts and The Icons editorial team not only unveiled the future direction of the tech industry but also marked the beginning of a new chapter in Taiwan-Europe collaboration.
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