On October 23, 2024, the WI Harper Group hosted its annual Shareholders Meeting for the first time in Tainan, Taiwan, a city renowned for its 400-year history and cultural heritage. Held at Silks Place Tainan, the event brought together a distinguished group of investors, scholars, and global industry leaders from Europe, the United States, and Japan, fostering meaningful dialogue and fresh insights into global economic and technological trends.
A Strategic Choice of Venue
Peter Liu, Chairman of WI Harper Group and CEO of Alpha Ring Group, opened the conference by explaining the significance of Tainan as the host city. Known for its deep cultural roots and burgeoning innovation ecosystem, Tainan epitomizes WI Harper’s commitment to merging tradition with modern technology. Liu highlighted the group’s dedication to driving industrial transformation and creating a sustainable ecosystem in Taiwan, emphasizing the importance of advancing emerging technologies in building the nation’s future.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary last year, WI Harper continues to lead in supporting innovative technologies and championing industrial transformation.
Tainan’s Growing Role in Innovation
Deputy Mayor of Tainan, Ms. Chao Ching-hui, welcomed attendees with remarks on Tainan’s rapid evolution as a technological hub. She spotlighted initiatives such as the Tainan Science Park, Shalun Smart Energy Science City, and the city’s strong academic foundation, underscoring its ability to nurture talent and innovation.
A Global AI Energy Summit
Recognizing the dual significance of energy and artificial intelligence in shaping the future, Liu introduced the conference’s theme: Global AI Energy Summit. He underscored the urgency of addressing climate change through innovation in energy and AI technologies.
The summit featured discussions under five key themes:
- Global Perspectives and Clean Energy – The Path to a Zero-Carbon Era
- A World in Transition: Disruptive Market Developments
- The Exploration of AI Technology
- Breakthroughs and the Future of Life Sciences
- Sustainable Development: The Necessity for Strategic Growth
Esteemed Speakers and Key Highlights
The summit featured a distinguished lineup of global thought leaders who shared groundbreaking insights across various fields:
- Dr. Cheng Li, University of Hong Kong, analyzed the evolving dynamics of U.S.-China competition in technology, emphasizing China’s advancements in aerospace and e-commerce. He encouraged both nations to explore areas of collaboration despite growing decoupling trends.
- Dr. Ahmad Bahai, CTO of Texas Instruments, highlighted how advancements in semiconductor and AI technologies are transforming healthcare. He discussed innovations such as non-invasive sensors and smart drug delivery systems, emphasizing the integration of biology, machine learning, and materials science to enable personalized health management.
- Dr. Jun Ni, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, addressed Industry 4.0’s impact on manufacturing, advocating for adopting advanced intelligent technologies to achieve true green sustainability and improve efficiency.
- Dr. Roger Falcone, UC Berkeley, delved into the potential of nuclear fusion as a sustainable energy source. He outlined Alpha Ring’s efforts in developing compact fusion reactors, with a focus on early commercialization.
- Dr. Nicky Lu, Chairman of Etron Technology, shared his vision for semiconductor transformation and participated in a panel discussion alongside Charlie Ryan, General Partner at Almaz Capital, and Dave Ditzel, Founder and CTO of Esperanto. The discussion explored challenges and opportunities in the semiconductor industry, providing diverse perspectives on the sector’s evolution.
- Marco Casiraghi, Monaco Yacht Club, and Giovanni Landi, EMEA General Manager of Alpha Ring, contributed insights into sustainable innovation and emerging trends in their respective fields, further enriching the discourse.
These speakers, along with other industry leaders and company founders invested in by WI Harper, provided valuable perspectives that energized discussions on global challenges and opportunities.
A Tradition of Innovation and Leadership
From its inception, WI Harper Group has been at the forefront of venture capital investment, backing innovations in areas like PC peripherals, e-commerce, and clean energy. Liu reiterated WI Harper’s commitment to staying ahead of global trends and fulfilling its mission of fostering transformative technologies.
A Gathering of Global Visionaries
The conference also welcomed distinguished guests, including Cyryl Kozaczewski, Director of the Poland Trade Office; Richard Soong, Chairman of Chimei Foods; and Lee Si-chen, former NTU President. Investors from the U.K., Italy, Russia, and Japan also attended, contributing to a vibrant exchange of ideas against the historic backdrop of Tainan.
This year’s Shareholders Meeting not only reflected WI Harper’s dedication to tackling global challenges but also ignited fresh possibilities for innovation, collaboration, and progress.
Please click below links to find the highlights of the meeting:
