25 Years of Photonics – A Joint Effort led by Dr. Peter Shih with the Taiwan Photonics Industry

Photonic industry has been developing over 25 years. Dr. Peter Shih in PIDA’s member reception party gave positive spin to the effort made by everyone in photonic industry. He mentioned that the contribution of photonics to Taiwan's GDP is 1/6 of the total, playing an important role in Taiwan’s economy as a whole.

Dr. Shih showed a piece of newspaper dated from 1983 that the government of that time has planned out aggressive strategies to develop photonic industry and expected the industry to boom in 90's. LCD, LED, lasers, and fiber optics that were on the list but unknown to people during that time now have great influence upon human life. "To look back," said Dr. Shih, "we made the right decision and have been heading in the right direction."

Dr. Shih also mentioned his conversation with the Nobel Prize winner Charles K. Kao who said Opto News & Letters led by Dr. Shih gave a clear definition to "photonics" and introduced photonics to people, setting up a solid ground for later development. Dr. Shih congratulates Dr. Kao and ends with a revised verse from:

Optical fiber founded by Kao,

Ever suspect to give man the power,

Use the fiber talk & see,

Hear the sub, deep in the sea.

FIG.1 Dr. Shih confirms the progress of photonic industry

Courtesy: PIDA

FIG.2 Dr. Kao visited Dr. Shih in 1990

Courtesy: PIDA

Aiming at the bright future of green energy, the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) administration has allotted land for the establishment of a green energy special zone to facilitate the development of solar cell, fuel cell, renewable energy switching equipment, solar energy systems, and other green industries. Furthermore, the STSP administration also drafting a plan that also includes recruiting green energy process equipment supplier in order to shorten the lead time in the supply chain and reduce overall production costs for our potential green energy enterprises.

In addition, the STSP administration will assist the HCPV (High Concentration Photovoltaic) Qualification & Development Center of INER (Institute of Nuclear Energy Research) at Kaohsiung Science Park (KSP) with the construction of HCPV power generation module certification system in compliance with international regulations. The STSP Administration will utilize technology transfer and collaboration plan to exploit industry talent and attract venture capital. This will promote the development of solar energy systems in southern Taiwan, and aid in the creation and sustainability of a comprehensive value chain.

Taking over 90% share of the global revenue in the e-paper industry, Taiwan has become the most important manufacturing base of the industry. Taiwan not only takes control of the key materials but also intends to streamline the whole supply chain of e-paper. In view of this promising industry, PIDA designed a "hybrid course" on Oct. 13th and invited speakers from Taiwan and Japan to give members a broadened perspective on e-paper development.

The hybrid course comprised e-paper’s technological development (by Dr. Frank Shiu, Deputy Division Director of Display Technology Center from ITRI), market status (by Dr. Hui Lee, Director of Business Development from Delta Electronics), and the latest progress of QR-LPD (Dr. Ryo Sakurai, manager of Bridgestone’s Electronic Paper Development).

For more information, please visit PIDA's website at http ://www.pida.org.tw