ventureLAB and City of Markham at CIX Conference: Leading the Semiconductor Revolution
Robots that clean your house, AI that designs the next big innovation, and cars that make split-second decisions—this is the future, and semiconductors are at its core. At this year’s Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) Conference, ventureLAB and the City of Markham showcased how Canada is pushing the boundaries of chip innovation to power AI, automation, and next-generation computing.
The Next Big Wave: How Semiconductor Innovation is Shaping Every Industry
ventureLAB’s CEO, Hugh Chow, led a panel discussion featuring industry experts at the CIX Conference. The conversation highlighted how Markham-based companies are driving semiconductor advancements that will define the next era of technology.
“We have a great success story in Canada when it comes to hard tech and semiconductor innovation,” said Hugh Chow, emphasizing the country’s expanding role in global chip development and advanced manufacturing.
The discussion at CIX reinforced Canada’s vital role in shaping semiconductor advancements. With Markham emerging as a hub for chip innovation, ventureLAB and the City of Markham’s presence at CIX strengthened the region’s position as a global tech leader.
AI's Impact on Industries
The panelists highlighted AI's expanding role, particularly in creative industries and engineering tools. “We see AI transforming content creation, but also how engineering tools evolve,” said Brandon Zhao, Partner at Two Small Fish Ventures. He also noted the shift toward open AI research: “AI is moving away from centralized, proprietary models to an open ecosystem, allowing more companies to innovate and scale.”
Mark Wood, CEO of Microart Services, shared how AI is disrupting manufacturing, “we’re seeing smaller manufacturers and processor companies embedding AI directly into their technologies.” This enables real-time decision-making without relying on the cloud, ensuring faster, more efficient responses in critical applications.
Driving Innovation and Collaboration
As semiconductor technology continues to power AI, automation, and beyond, ventureLAB remains committed to fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and supporting the next generation of tech entrepreneurs. The next big wave in semiconductors isn’t coming, it’s already here, and Canada is at the forefront.
