Taiwan is highlighting its technological prowess and start-up capabilities at this year’s Viva Technology conference in Paris. The Taiwan Pavilion, which opened on Wednesday, features 29 tech start-ups that can address problems in 34 different industrial fields, according to Lin Der-sheng, head of the Taiwanese delegation and department director at the National Science and Technology Council.
The opening ceremony was attended by several high-profile figures, including French Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology Clara Chappaz, French Minister of Higher Education Sylvie Retailleau, and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co chairman Young Liu. Julie Lamande, head of Viva Technology Global Partnerships and Public Affairs, noted that Taiwan provides significant ‘inspiration’ to France and Europe in the tech ecosystem, expressing hope for collaboration between France and Taiwan in the semiconductor industry.
Lamande highlighted Taiwan’s leadership in AI, deep tech, and chipmaking, stating that these areas are the focus of this year’s event. Retailleau emphasized the potential for complementarity between France and Taiwan, citing Taiwan’s experience in business collaboration and technology, while France excels in research and higher education talent.
Chappaz expressed willingness to deepen collaborations with Hon Hai after the company announced memorandums of understanding with France’s Thales Group and Radiall SA last month. Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang delivered a keynote speech that drew a large crowd, with many unable to enter the venue.
Other Taiwanese companies, such as Pegatron Corp and Asustek Computer Inc, also showcased their latest technologies at the event. Pegatron displayed its RA4802-72N2 server rack built on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture, while Asustek introduced its latest AI infrastructure solutions and announced collaborations with AI firm Nebius Group NV.
Viva Technology, founded in 2016, is one of Europe’s largest tech trade fairs, expected to host over 13,500 start-ups, 3,500 exhibitors, 3,200 investors, and 165,000 participants during its four-day run.
