An exabyte of data is the equivalent of a stack of DVDs about 255.3 kilometres high. Each transistor in a state-of-the-art chip measures only 5 nanometers (nm) — the length a human fingernail grows in five seconds.
The world increasingly turns around data and processing power and if data is the new oil the 21st century wars could see as many wars fought over control of the ones and zeros as were fought over black gold in the last century. In which case Taiwan becomes an important centre to watch.
In last month’s Global China, Saif Khan and Carrick Flynn argued for maintaining China’s dependence on democracies for advanced computer chips through export controls. These democracies, particularly Taiwan, the US and South Korea, lead the development of the most advanced chips – those with transistors of between 5nm and 16nm.
Japan has struggled to keep up and so it was little surprise in the past week to see DealStreetAsia report Japanese venture capital firm Jafco has made the final close of its debut Taiwan venture fund at NT$2bn ($67.1m) with limited partners including the National Development Fund of Taiwan.
Corporations, such as UMC, MediaTek and TSMC, and venture units including Taiwania Capital, are also increasingly active venture investors, according to GCV Analytics.
And in a webinar last week hosted by trade association Semi Taiwan, it was good to hear its plans for a Corporate Growth and Innovation Community.
But tensions remain high the island could be pulled into a US-China trade war that could turn hotter.
As the Wall Street Journal warned after Taiwanese war ships were scrambled against a Chinese aircraft carrier, Watch Out in the South China Sea.
