Latest news with #TESA
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Thai deal targets growth of domestic chip design
The Thai Embedded Systems Association (TESA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with global chip design software firm Synopsys as it works to build domestic chip design capabilities. The platform aims to enable Thai production of its own chip products, utilising its existing manufacturing industry, supporting advanced research and contributing to the local assembly, testing and packaging sector. The partnership can also cultivate local talent to compete to become a semiconductor hub in Southeast Asia, said Wiroon Sriborrirux, president of TESA. "Thailand imports chips worth hundreds of billions of baht every year, yet we don't design our own chips. This need to change," he said. The MoU represents a step forward in chip design for the nation, said Mr Wiroon. Thailand will develop capabilities to contribute to the global Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) ecosystem as a designer and innovator, not just a consumer, he said. Under the MoU on AIoT chip prototyping and curriculum development, Synopsys will provide electronic design automation tools, technical support, and the necessary resources to help Thailand's ecosystem, particularly university professors and industry partners to achieve the technical results needed for success. This partnership represents a milestone in Thailand's goal to design its own chips, said Mr Wiroon. "We're working to develop a prototype of a 'nation chip' with built-in edge AI capabilities that will be the core technology for high-impact industries in Thailand," he said. TESA expects an outcome from the collaboration by the middle of next year, said Mr Wiroon. Ultimately, the association intends to create a sustainable knowledge transfer model for Thailand, with 50 professionals trained by the end of 2026. Thanaporn Sangpaithoon, vice-president of TESA, said Thailand's electronics industry is dominated by assembly, testing, packaging and manufacturing, with only a few integrated circuit (IC) design companies. "TESA aims to shift the country's focus from low-value-added manufacturing and production to accelerating R&D activities in IC design, and production of intellectual property [IP] patents as well as development of a skilled IC design workforce," said Mr Thanaporn. In the long term, the group wants Thailand to build capability in design and manufacturing of its own electronics products for export, rather than remaining a production base for factories that can easily be relocated elsewhere, he said. The MoU is meant to facilitate AIoT prototyping and curriculum development by leveraging Synopsys tools to create application-specific IC prototypes, extending this design collaboration to TESA's university partners, and fostering the growth of new startups that will adopt Synopsys' electronic design automation technologies and IP. Seven university partners have signed user licence agreements with Synopsys through TESA, gaining access to tools for chip prototyping and developing curricula focused on IC design. The Synopsys-TESA partnership is focusing first on prototyping 32-bit RISC-V chips with a tiny and efficient neural processing unit. These chips are uniquely suitable for AIoT, featuring an open and modular architecture with low power consumption and high efficiency. Adrian Ng, executive sales director for Southeast Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh at Synopsys, said the US-China trade war and tariffs are creating an unfortunate but significant opportunity for Southeast Asia as more companies seek to move operations to Asia. The semiconductor business is critical for national security and countries are heavily investing in it, he said. The global semiconductor market is projected for rapid growth, reaching US$1 trillion by 2030, rising from roughly $500 billion now, said Mr Ng. However, the industry faces significant challenges, particularly demand for talent, with huge shortages of engineers in the US, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and India. He said Thailand has a strong base in assembly and testing, but it must move upstream. Building a robust IC design ecosystem requires a clear government industrial policy, R&D incentives, and open investment and talent development, said Mr Ng. Synopsys hopes this AIoT project will be a "shining star" for Thailand's silicon capabilities, he said. Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines are developing their semiconductor sectors, and Thailand needs to "ride on this wave", said Mr Ng.
The Hindu
29-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Understanding the importance of men's role in IVF and fertility treatments
Usually, in conversations around IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation), the focus is primarily on the woman's role. However, male participation is equally important in IVF, both physiologically and emotionally. The active involvement of men can increase the overall success rates of IVF and reduce the stress on the woman partner, leading to better outcomes as a couple. The role of men in IVF The male partner plays a central role in the IVF process. Semen analysis is one of the first diagnostic steps to identify problems leading to infertility, especially if the female partner's tests are normal. Optimisation of male parameters is of paramount importance. Lifestyle changes, oral medications and, if required, surgical procedures such as microsurgical varicocele repair can help in improving sperm parameters and thereby, the overall success rates of IVF. Another important requirement for the male partner in IVF treatment is to provide a good semen sample on the day of egg pickup. Some men may not be able to provide this semen sample on the day of egg pickup despite being healthy otherwise, or even with normal semen parameters. Techniques like TESA (Testicular Sperm Aspiration) or PESA (Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) can help overcome this situation. In men with azoospermia, advanced sophisticated procedures like Micro TESE (microsurgical testicular sperm extraction) can help in retrieving sperm. This highlights the fact that men's biological contribution is crucial and as necessary as that of their female counterparts, for successful IVF and embryo development. Also Read: IVF is expensive. Can recent cost-cutting technologies make a difference? The emotional role Men's emotional support plays a critical role in the overall success of IVF. The entire IVF process can be emotionally taxing for women. When male partners get involved in consultations, discussions and decision making, it fosters better communication, helping women to handle their stress better. For a successful IVF journey, men should adopt the following healthy habits: Maintain a balanced diet rich in antioxidants (like vitamin C and E, zinc and selenium). Avoid smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs since they negatively impact sperm count, motility, etc. Exercise regularly to boost testosterone. Avoid excessive heat exposure (like hot tubs and tight underwear) that can negatively affect sperm production. Manage stress through meditation or counselling, since cortisol, or the stress hormone, can affect hormone levels. Get enough sleep every day and have annual checkups, especially for conditions including diabetes and thyroid issues which can affect fertility. AI tools are being developed to predict IVF outcomes in men with infertility. Male participation in IVF therefore, is not just supportive in nature – it is fundamental to the treatment's success. ( S. Karthikeyan is a microsurgical andrologist and urologist, Apollo Fertility, Anna Nagar & Karapakkam, Chennai. velachery@
Bangkok Post
15-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Infineon, TESA to create new AI platform
Infineon Technologies, a global leader in semiconductor solutions, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Thai Embedded Systems Association (TESA) to establish a National Secure Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) platform. This strategic partnership aims to help Thailand make significant strides, shifting its focus from traditional manufacturing to fostering innovation and intellectual property (IP), including AIoT startups. The global semiconductor market is expected to be worth US$200 billion in 2025, with the compound annual growth rate for the next few years estimated at 11%. "The global landscape is rapidly moving towards digitalisation, with a surge in demand for semiconductors driven by trends in artificial intelligence [AI] and Internet of Things [IoT] across various sectors, including manufacturing, consumer products, automotive, telecommunications, and even agriculture," CS Chua, president and managing director of Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific, told the Bangkok Post. Thailand, with its large population and significant agricultural sector, is uniquely positioned to capitalise on these opportunities, he added. For instance, modern technologies such as drones and AI are being explored for smart farming to address the decreasing human workforce in agriculture. The National Secure AIoT platform will drive the development of high-value smart electronics with the latest cybersecurity standards, aimed at benefiting crucial industries in Thailand's digital transformation. These industries include national security, healthcare, agriculture, energy, smart cities, and Industry 4.0. The partnership will also work closely with local startups and academia, fostering knowledge exchange and innovation that align with the national vision for a technologically advanced future. "The secure AIoT platform is described as a 'mixture of everything', aiming to build an entire ecosystem that encourages startups and companies to leverage digital transformation for societal and economic improvement," said Mr Chua. He added that the partnership with TESA will create a robust and scalable AIoT platform that will pave the way for innovative solutions in Thailand. "This collaboration not only underscores our dedication to driving digitalisation and decarbonisation, but also supports the Thai government's investments in the AI, IoT and semiconductor sectors," he said. This partnership will also enable Thai engineers and developers to create innovative products from the ground up -- from hardware and firmware to complete AIoT platforms, said Wiroon Sriborrirux, the president of TESA. Mr Wiroon added that the collaboration addresses three critical impact pillars, including security-first design, aligning with international cybersecurity standards. The National Secure AIoT platform will serve as the foundational infrastructure for various platform services. This will directly benefit key industries that have a significant impact on Thailand, Asean, and the global market, he added. Mr Chua added that a significant benefit of the platform is its ability to shortcut the hardware development phase. Recognising that many new-generation engineers tend to focus on software and application development, the platform provides a standardised hardware solution. "This allows developers to concentrate on programming, algorithms, and AI features to create proof-of-concept solutions much faster -- reducing development time from weeks to days," he said. Once an idea is proven, hardware can be optimised for cost-effectiveness. While not necessarily leading to vendor lock-in, the primary goal is to enable and speed up the development of new ideas, said Mr Chua. The initiative also aims to educate students and make universities aware of the platform. There are plans to hold competitions and hackathons to encourage startups to innovate within the digital economy, focusing on solving specific Thai problems in areas like agriculture, tourism, and smart homes. This approach cultivates hundreds of companies focused on software development and novel ideas, Mr Chua said. The IoT solutions often address niche, localised problems that large international companies may not find economically viable. For example, solutions for Thai agriculture might be unique to the region, making local innovation essential. This fosters self-resilience in technology capability within Thailand's industries. "Thailand can build its own IP and AIoT startups with proven solutions we can export to neighbouring countries in the region which have the same problem," Mr Chua said. While the National Secure AIoT platform is expected to create demand for semiconductors, the focus is on developing high-value intellectual property rather than just physical production. The goal is to empower Thai companies to create their own products, which can then be exported to neighbouring countries facing similar challenges.
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
The Bulletin June 18, 2025
The rundown: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said two centrifuge production facilities in Iran have been struck. Here's what that means. Why it matters: The TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Center were hit, the IAEA said. Centrifuges are used to enrich uranium. Both sites were previously monitored by the IAEA under the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran. Read more in-depth coverage: Israel's Missile Defenses Running Short as Iran Fires Hypersonics: Report TL/DR: Israel has targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites in several days of strikes. What happens now? Trump is urging Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to make a new nuclear deal that would end the current conflict. Meanwhile, international observers say Iran is enriching uranium to a level that far exceeds what would be needed for civil energy purposes. Deeper reading Israel Struck Centrifuge Sites in Iran: Nuclear Watchdog
Scoop
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Guterres Renews Call For Israel-Iran Ceasefire
18 June 2025 ' I reiterate my call for immediate de-escalation leading to a ceasefire,' Mr. Guterres said in a statement in which he strongly appealled against any further internationalization of the conflict. 'Any additional military interventions could have enormous consequences, not only for those involved but for the whole region and for international peace and security at large,' he warned. Deadly escalation The crisis erupted on Friday when Israel began targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes on Israeli cities. Since then, more than 240 people have been killed across both countries, according to media reports. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been monitoring Iran's nuclear programme for decades, said that it had received information that two centrifuge production facilities were struck on Wednesday. The TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Center were previously under its monitoring and verification as part of a 2015 international agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). 'At the Tehran site, one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested,' the agency said in a tweet. 'At Karaj, two buildings were destroyed where different centrifuge components were manufactured.' Last week, the IAEA passed a resolution declaring that Iran was not complying with its non-proliferation obligations. The text noted Iran's 'many failures' to provide the agency with full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple undeclared locations in the country. Diplomacy reigns supreme As the crisis in the Middle East deepens, the Secretary-General stressed that ' diplomacy remains the best and only way to address concerns regarding Iran's nuclear programme and regional security issues.' He underlined that ' the UN Charter remains our shared framework to save people from the scourge of war,' urging all Member States to fully comply with the document and international law, including international humanitarian law.
