TAIPEI, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — To accelerate the co-development of Taiwan–U.S. startup ecosystems in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and advanced technologies, Startup Island TAIWAN, the national startup brand guided by Taiwan’s National Development Council (NDC), today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Phoenix, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), and Tesoro Venture Capital, in collaboration with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

Building on TSMC’s expansion in Phoenix, the partnership aims to integrate Taiwan’s technological and industrial strengths with Phoenix’s robust industrial cluster to establish a long-term innovation collaboration framework.

The MOU signing ceremony was jointly witnessed by the National Development Council, the Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), marking an upgrade of prior project-based cooperations and further promoting participation in accelerators, incubators, and soft-landing programs.

From Pilot Projects to Institutionalized Collaboration

During Deputy Minister Jan Fang-Guan emphasized that the signing of this MOU builds upon two years of solid collaboration. He noted that since Startup Island TAIWAN and GPEC established their partnership in 2024, several Taiwanese biomedical teams have successfully entered the Phoenix market, achieving tangible outcomes such as U.S. FDA approvals and completed clinical proof-of-concept (POC) validations.

“These success stories demonstrate the strong complementarity and significant potential of Taiwan–Phoenix cooperation,” As the semiconductor industry becomes increasingly integrated with advanced technology applications, this MOU upgrades previous project-based collaboration by incorporating incubation and acceleration resources from partners such as Tesoro Venture Capital. With a focus on startup landing and market-driven development, the partnership aims to further advance soft-landing programs for startups.

Medical Startups Deliver Breakthrough Results in the U.S. Market

As one of the most retirement-friendly cities in the United States, Phoenix is home to world-renowned medical institutions, including Mayo Clinic, and offers a mature and open clinical environment. With support from Startup Island TAIWAN and GPEC, Phoenix has emerged as a key gateway for Taiwanese health-tech startups conducting clinical POCs and expanding into the U.S. market.

Notable success cases include:

JelloX: Leveraging AI-powered 3D pathology imaging technology, JelloX collaborated with Mayo Clinic to complete clinical validation and obtained U.S. FDA clearance, demonstrating strong performance in colorectal polyp diagnosis.

Brain Navi: One of the few Taiwanese teams to receive U.S. FDA approval for a brain surgery robotic system, highlighting Taiwan’s global competitiveness in AI-driven medical automation.

Aesop: Its AI-based clinical diagnostic reasoning model has completed POC validation in U.S. healthcare settings, effectively supporting clinical decision-making and workflow optimization.

These cases illustrate the natural complementarity between Phoenix’s concentrated medical demand and Taiwan’s advanced AI medical technologies—accelerating market validation for Taiwanese startups while delivering ready-to-deploy solutions to U.S. healthcare systems.

Focusing on Key Technologies to Co-Build a Taiwan–U.S. Innovation Ecosystem

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego stated that Phoenix is not only a major U.S. semiconductor hub, but also an innovation gateway integrating AI, talent, and capital. She emphasized that Phoenix is well-positioned as a strategic entry point for Taiwanese startups into the U.S. market. With support from Tesoro Venture Capital, corporate partners, local resources such as the Mayo Clinic accelerator, a high quality of life, and direct flights between Taipei and Phoenix, the city offers a comprehensive environment for startups to land and scale rapidly. Mayor Gallego expressed her expectation that the MOU would further amplify the global impact of Taiwanese startups.

GPEC President and CEO Christine Mackay noted that since signing an MOU with Startup Island TAIWAN in 2023, the two sides have established a physical showcase site in Phoenix’s biomedical innovation district. By leveraging the U.S. SelectUSA program, the partnership provides Taiwanese startups with pragmatic market-entry mechanisms that support direct sales and accelerated landing.

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) also reaffirmed its continued collaboration with GPEC through SelectUSA to support Taiwanese startups and TSMC supply-chain partners expanding into Phoenix. AIT highly recognized Taiwan’s outstanding performance across AI, healthcare, semiconductors, manufacturing, drones, and aerospace sectors.

SMESA Director General Kuan-Chih Lee emphasized that SMEs will remain at the core of this collaboration. By integrating Taiwan’s talent, technology, and community resources, SMESA will support startups participating in SelectUSA and help build scalable industrial clusters in Phoenix and Arizona—positioning SMEs as a critical foundation for U.S. industrial development and international investment cooperation.

Tesoro Venture Capital Founder Andy Lombard stated that over the next five years, Tesoro plans to cultivate 200–300 startups by integrating large-scale investments in AI and semiconductors. He stressed the importance of aligning industry partners such as TSMC, Cadence, and Amkor with consistent government policy support. Lombard also proposed establishing an executive committee composed of leaders from the signatory organizations to regularly set goals and ensure execution, with a focus on Taiwan–U.S. talent and workforce development to pragmatically translate the MOU into concrete acceleration and governance mechanisms.

Toward Long-Term, Measurable Impact

As Phoenix continues to grow into a major U.S. hub for semiconductors and advanced technologies—with Taiwanese companies and startups playing a critical role—this partnership will focus on AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, photonics, AI healthcare applications, and defense-related industries. Through bilateral exchanges, industrial validation, and investment matchmaking, the collaboration will support Taiwanese startups entering the U.S. market while attracting U.S. teams to engage with Taiwan.

Moving forward, the partners will continue to cultivate internationally competitive technology startups through institutionalized cooperation, transforming innovation partnerships into measurable and replicable economic outcomes and further strengthening the long-term Taiwan–U.S. partnership.

ZYT’s German Office Commences Operations in January, Debuting Local Recruitment for European Push

SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Intelligent driving solution provider ZYT launched its commercial vehicle strategy at the “ZYT Brand Gala 2025,” expanding its business from passenger car ADAS into heavy-duty truck Navigation on Highway (NOA) and unmanned logistics vehicles.

ZYT has partnered with three major Chinese OEMs — XCMG, SHACMAN, and SINOTRUK — to bring the first ZYT-powered heavy trucks to mass production in the first half of 2026. Beyond highway transport, ZYT is extending its intelligent driving capabilities to broader automated scenarios. In early 2026, the company will co-develop unmanned logistics vehicles with leading industry players, targeting automated transport in ports, industrial parks, and mines.

This move marks a natural extension of ZYT’s core technical pillars: its transferable architecture, platform adaptability proven through “Equal Intelligence for ICE and EV Vehicles,” and a world-class engineering system.

Leveraging Transferable Architecture for Peak Performance

ZYT is porting its mature, full-stack “Perception-Decision-Control” technology from passenger cars to commercial vehicle applications. To address the unique dynamics and operational environments of heavy-duty transport, the company remains committed to its “Stay Passionate” engineering philosophy — extracting peak performance from constrained hardware resources.

The heavy-duty truck intelligent driving system features ZYT’s proprietary 1L3R7V sensor suite, powered by an SA8650 domain controller delivering 100 TOPS of computing power. At its core is ZYT’s self-developed End-to-End model. Optimized for heavy-truck scenarios, the system enables Navigation on Highway (NOA), driving assistance, and active safety features across a full speed range of 0–110 km/h. Supporting diverse environments — including urban roads, expressways, and highways — the architecture establishes a robust capability for rapid technical migration across different models and scenarios.

Solving Compatibility Challenges through “Equal Intelligence for ICE and EV Vehicles”

The commercial vehicle market — spanning diesel, natural gas, pure electric, and hybrid platforms — demands exceptional system compatibility and stability. Compared to the more uniform passenger car sector, commercial fleets require intelligent driving solutions with far more rigorous universality and reliability.

Building on its “Equal Intelligence for ICE and EV Vehicles” strategy pioneered in the passenger sector, ZYT has validated its multi-platform adaptability, laying the technical foundation for its expansion into commercial vehicles.

Achieving true “Equal Intelligence for ICE and EV Vehicles” is a complex technical feat. Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) powertrains are highly non-linear and present significant thermal management challenges. ZYT specializes in delivering high-level intelligent driving functions using low-power, cost-effective chips, enhancing system stability and adaptability from the ground up.

While industry resources are largely concentrated on New Energy Vehicle (NEV) intelligence, ZYT recognizes the persistent demand for ICE vehicles in markets like Europe. Through its “Equal Intelligence for ICE and EV Vehicles” capability, ZYT provides ICE users with a smart experience on par with EVs. This offers a differentiated upgrade path for legacy automakers like Volkswagen and FAW, who maintain massive global ICE fleets.

By 2025, ZYT had already facilitated the mass production of intelligent driving features in several ICE models, proving its ability to deliver standardized, high-reliability solutions for any commercial powertrain.

Meeting Global Standards to Drive European Localization

Entering the European market with intelligent driving systems requires adherence to the highest levels of functional safety and engineering process standards. Through seven years of deep collaboration with the Volkswagen Group, ZYT has established a research and development and quality management framework that complies with international standards such as A-SPICE CL2 and ISO 26262. This robust engineering foundation serves as a key enabler of ZYT’s European strategy.

In August 2025, ZYT successfully passed a third-party joint audit and obtained the relevant certifications. This system is a concrete reflection of ZYT’s “Users First • Clients Empowered” philosophy and acts as a critical “passport” for entering high-standard global markets like Europe.

Building on this groundwork, ZYT is steadily advancing its European localization. Following the official launch of its European strategy during the IAA Mobility show in Munich, ZYT is positioning Germany as a key hub and has begun recruiting for local roles. Looking ahead, ZYT aims to provide European OEMs with intelligent driving systems that comply with EU regulations, while simultaneously supporting Chinese automakers in their global market entry by offering solutions ranging from L2+ to L3 and L4 levels.

Moving Toward an Era of Autonomous Mobility

As its business footprint continues to grow, ZYT officially enters a new phase of “Empowering Autonomous Mobility.” Moving forward, the company will prioritize its robust engineering framework and localized capabilities as key strategic levers for long-term development. With the passenger car business as its foundation and the commercial sector as a new growth engine, ZYT remains dedicated to its mission: “Safe and Effortless Mobility for ALL.”

TOKYO, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — RX Japan is all set to host the 40th edition of NEPCON JAPAN, one of the world’s leading technology trade shows, from January 21–23, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight. This milestone event will be held alongside three major exhibitions — AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, Factory Innovation Week, and Smart Logistics Expo — creating one of Asia’s largest technology gatherings.

The combined shows are expected to feature 1,850 exhibitors and attract 92,000 visitors, offering an unparalleled platform for professionals across electronics, automotive, manufacturing, and logistics sectors.

In addition, more than 200 technical seminars will take place during the three-day event, delivering insights from industry leaders such as Dr. Rao R. Tummala (Emeritus Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology/Advisor of Indian Semiconductor Mission, Government of India) and leading global companies such as Rapidus Corp., ASE (Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. ), Intel, Infineon Technologies Japan, StarPower Semiconductor, Resonac Corp., and TSMC Japan 3DIC R&D Center Inc.

NEPCON JAPAN has been recognised for four decades as a comprehensive showcase for innovations in electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, and advanced packaging technologies. For its 40th anniversary edition, the exhibition will span the entire Tokyo Big Sight venue, providing attendees with expanded opportunities to explore cutting-edge solutions and network with industry pioneers.

“The 40^th year of NEPCON JAPAN will be a grand celebration of the global electronics industry that it has grown alongside. With over 1,850 exhibitors from all over the world, the three-day event will serve as a massive showcase of R&D, manufacturing, and packaging technologies, alongside its co-located shows,” said Masaki Soda, Show Director.

Free visitor registration for NEPCON JAPAN is now open at: https://x.gd/zUXbQ

For more details and updates, visit the official website: https://www.nepconjapan.jp/tokyo/en-gb.html.

Contact:
TEL:      +81-3-6739-4102
E-mail:   inw.jp@rxglobal.com
Web:     https://www.nepconjapan.jp/tokyo/en-gb.html

About RX Japan GK 
RX Japan GK organises 106 exhibitions, composed of 415 sub-exhibitions, annually at large exhibition halls such as Tokyo Big Sight, Makuhari Messe, and INTEX Osaka across a wide variety of 38 fields, including jewellery, fashion, gift items, electronics, energy, IT, cosmetics, and medical. Visit the RX Japan website for more details.