COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2016 showcased from May 31st to June 4th, bringing together global technology companies such as ABB, Acer, Audi, BenQ, Cooler Master, MSI, SAMSUNG, Siemens, Mercedes-Benz, and more targeting 4 main themes: IoT applications, business solutions, innovations and startups, and gaming. This influential and important global ICT event attracted 40,969 international ICT professionals to the show, an increase of 4.7% from last year. International visitors came from 177 countries worldwide, growing by 9%. Top 5 countries/regions that produced the greatest turnout of international visitors are: China, Japan, USA, Hong Kong and Korea, showing the influence and importance of COMPUTEX while echoing its new position of “build partnerships in internet computing ecosystems”.

COMPUTEX 2016 hosted 1,602 local and international exhibitors occupying 5,009 booths, including 23% first-timers. COMPUTEX attracts great number of local and international buyers each year. This year, TAITRA arranged 822 1-on-1 procurement meetings to directly link 188 VIP buyers with exhibitors, promoting superior ICT products to the world, and facilitating engagements among tech professionals.

The debut of InnoVEX, exhibit for innovations and startups, also created new dynamics at COMPUTEX. Futuristic fabrications, event lineups on two stages, contests, and displays of 217 startups (including 25 award-winning teams) contributed their creativity and energy to attract 10,975 visits in three days. COMPUTEX continued to reinvent itself. For e-sports and gaming, COMPUTEX collaborated with HWBOT by holding HWBOT World Tour 2016 at COMPUTEX and invited global overclocking professionals to challenge hardware capabilities. Director of HWBOT Taiwan, Pieter Jan-Plaisier, said, “Great devices by gaming manufacturers in Taiwan and reputations of COMPUTEX attracted many overclocking masters to this debut event in Taiwan.” The Light Gallery of Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1 was redesigned into an overclocking arena for this unprecedented competition.

COMPUTEX 2016 focused on IoT development as great number of exhibitors displayed their latest smart devices including all aspects of IoT, smart retail, integrating virtual reality, 3D priting and comprehensive business solutions. During COMPUTEX, chip giant, Intel, announced its collaboration with Hon Hai for developing various network infrastructure technologies, fully demonstrating the importance of COMPUTEX in the ICT industry and how IoT will lead the next wave of industry revolution.

Besides IoT developments among established industry leaders, COMPUTEX 2016 also celebrated innovations and startups at the debut of InnoVEX exhibit. Startups around the world were invited to showcase their ideas, search for investments, or find regional distributors. This year, 217 startups from 27 countries enriched COMPUTEX 2016. InnoVEX Pitch Contest provided financial incentives and experienced judges, attracting 102 participating teams from 17 countries. After three eliminations, eight finalists competed on June 2nd. The winner was MoBagel, the only team from Taiwan selected in 500 Startups accelerator of 2015. It proposed “Real-Time Predictive Analytics for IoT Devices”, predicting big data analytics and combining artificial intelligence with connected home appliances for smart business forecasting.

The CPX Conference, organized by TAITRA, consisted of world tech leaders. The lineup of the 2-day conference included: CEO of ARM, Simon Segars; innovation designer for Milan Candidate City Expo 2015 and one of three major futurists in the world, Vito Di Bari; Rahul Patel, Senior Vice President and General Manager of connectivity, Qualcomm; Steve Wyatt, Group Vice President of ABB Robotics; Erdal Elver, President & CEO of Siemens Ltd. Taiwan; Lucas Wang, CEO of HWTrek; Allan Yang, CTO of Advantech; Simon Wang, Senior Director of Internet of Things Business Development, TSMC and more tech executives delivering keynote speeches on IoT applications, ecosystem partnership, and innovative startups, attracting over 2,300 audiences.

During the keynote, Simon Segard indicated, “IoT is no longer just an imaginary concept. Hardware-software integration will facilitate comprehensive solutions in various aspects. Under IoT ecosystem, technology, enterprise, platform and information integrations will enable more opportunities.” And Vito Di Bari pointed out; solid manufacturing capabilities in Taiwan had laid a solid foundation for technology innovations. It’s important to connect with ecosystem partners to develop and expand influences. COMPUTEX continues to contribute to technology developments with insights from tech executives and futurists at CPX Conference.

At the closing press conference, Walter Yeh, Executive Vice President of TAITRA, said, “TAITRA would like to express our gratitude to all supporters. COMPUTEX 2017 will open from May 30th to June 3rd with focuses on innovative technologies such as AI, VR, AR, and smart manufacturing to promote Taiwan’s influences in the ICT industry.”