most promising companies built on superior technology and with sound
operational fundamentals. It should be noted that IoT is a particularly strong
fit for a cross-border model between Taiwan and Silicon Valley, as the sector
plays to the strengths of both regions. Bay Area startups are leading the way
for the development of core IoT software technologies and enabling platforms,
while Taiwan is world-renowned for underlying semiconductor and design
manufacturing capabilities.
Investment Sector: Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
(AR/VR)
Overview
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), sometimes referred to as
"Mixed Reality" or "Reality Plus", refers to the set of technologies that seamlessly
merge real-world interactions with digital technologies to create an enhanced,
and ideally superior, human experience. While both share similar technological
underpinnings, the term "Virtual Reality" is often associated with applications
that focus on entertainment and social interaction (such as gaming, media
consumption, dating, and the like) while the term "Augmented Reality" more often
refers to industrial or enterprise applications (such as automotive, healthcare,
customer service and so on). AR/VR has been a key trend in VC investing
for over half a decade, however recent market developments have made this
category one of the fastest growing and well-funded sectors of the VC landscape.
Sometimes referred to as the next major computing platform, AR and VR have
seen substantial increases in both funding and deal volume (the latter being
contrary to most global trends and an indicator of category strength). As is to be
expected with a rapidly growing category, mega-rounds and unicorn valuations
are abundant.
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Taiwan Economic Forum
Volume 15, Number 4
政策
名家
國發
經濟
專題
