Access to the latest and greatest in emerging technologies places us in a favorable position as a society when it comes to combatting the pandemic. COVID-19 has essentially affected the entire world, not just in terms of health, but has also placed many businesses and entire industries at risk and has forced us all to work and learn from home. This has caused quite the disruption and many organizations and governments across the world are working tirelessly to put an end to the crisis in recent months.

Ericsson will build a Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) system for Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan’s largest integrated telecommunications services company, enabling the island to take its first steps toward joining the Internet of Things (IoT). Chunghwa Telecom will use the system to trial a range of IoT devices and applications in its laboratory.

Qualcomm has unveiled that it is planning to establish three technology and testing centers in Taiwan which will help in the commercial development of 5G and advanced technologies. The research and design centers will be established in Hsinchu in the north of the country and will be operational in 2019.

The Taiwan 5G Alliance - linking together more than 40 corporations and organizations from the government, academia, and research sectors - aims to launch pre-commercial 5G networks in 2020 with the vision of building a world-class 5G industry chain in Taiwan that is at the forefront of global development and commercial deployment.

Qualcomm has released additional findings of a landmark study, The 5G Economy. The new research, conducted by leading industry and economic analysis firm IHS Markit, examines the potential economic impact of 5G for the Taiwan market.

Uber have announced that it will resume its ride-hailing services in Taiwan following a series of successful talks with island authorities. The US firm suspended its services in the region after being hit with a series of fines and penalties after government figures claimed that Uber was misrepresenting itself by claiming to be a technology platform and not a transportation company. However, after a number of ‘constructive talks' Uber have ended its two-month suspension on services in Taiwan.

A Taiwanese venture-backed start-up has agreed to partner with a leading Japanese investment company in an attempt to deploy its electric 'smart-scooters' in the technologically-driven country. Gogoro, which was founded in 2011, formally announced its agreement with global trading and business investment colossus Sumitomo Corporation.