TrendForce Acquires Topology as Both Aim to Expand Overseas and in China

TrendForce Corp., a global market intelligence firm, announced today (January 22) that it has become the majority shareholder of Topology Research Institute, with all the controlling stakeholder’s operating rights entailed. Kevin Lin, the CEO of TrendForce, will also hold the title of Chairman of Topology. Topology’s operations, brand, and managing staff will be under the same business model after the merger. 

“Market intelligence and intellectual property is a professional field with a bright future in an age dominated by high tech industries, Big Data, and the Internet,” said, Lin, Chairman of Topology and CEO of TrendForce. Based in Taiwan, TrendForce has established itself as a recognized brand name endorsed and invested by technology giants and international investment banks. “Our ability to have in-depth access to the global high tech supply chain and exert influences is the result of more than a decade of hard work,” Lin continued, “and I believe both firms will supplement and strengthen each other with this merger.” With Topology joining TrendForce, TrendForce is now Taiwan’s biggest private research organization that specializes technology industries as well as one of the leading research firms in Asia. TrendForce’s domestic and international clients in the near future can expect even more comprehensive industry analysis and consultation services. 

Founded in 2000, TrendForce has built up its position as the global authority of research and analysis on the DRAM industry starting with DRAMeXchange. The company has further expanded its research fields to include Flash, LCD, LED, smartphones, solar energy, and consumer behaviors. 

TrendForce’s primary clients are internationally renowned brand names and major enterprises in China, including the triumvirate of the tech world – Apple, Google and Facebook. Other global brand names that TrendForce has served include Intel, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, Huawei, Lenovo, and many more. Global investment firms, such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ and Credit Suisse, have also continuously retained TrendForce’s services. The market intelligence generated by TrendForce are thus endorsed and acquired by these actors of the international market. 

Topology Research Institute was established in 1996 and has been primarily providing studies on the technology industries in Taiwan and China. With Topology becoming part TrendForce, a staff of 250 analysts and managing personnel will be diligently covering technology, policy, and supply chain in the Greater China Region and the rest of the world. In addition to assisting Taiwanese firms setting up in China and devising global strategies, TrendForce-Topology Alliance will build on TrendForce’s existing overseas client base and create a key investment bridge to the Greater China Region for foreign firms. Both sides of the merger will be able to take advantage of each other’s talents and clientele while creating the market intelligence that the technology industries demand: comprehensive statistical reports, analyses, databases, and etc. The mission of TrendForce and Topology is to become the knowledge gateway for companies expanding globally or in China. 

About Kevin Lin, founder and CEO of TrendForce Corp. and Chairman of Topology Research Institute 

Mr. Lin received his B.A. in Computer Science and MBA at National Taiwan University (NTU). Lin is a pioneer in Taiwan’s e-commerce sector, beginning with his founding of NeoCom Technology in 1999. As the founder and CEO, Lin made NeoCom Technology the largest online B2C and C2C platform in Taiwan with uBid.com.tw, a successful shopping and auction website. In 2002, NeoCom Technology was acquired by eBay, which was the largest e-commerce company in the United States at the time. 

In 2000, Lin founded DRAMeXchange, a B2B e-commerce unit, and TrendForce, which under his supervision has become a globally recognized name in technology market research. 

About TrendForce 

TrendForce is a research institution that provides in-depth market and industry consultation service as well as being a media platform for industry-related news. Every year, TrendForce hosts several international seminars in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Taipei. Experts and leaders from high tech and emerging industries are gathered and invited to share their most recent findings in industry developments and market trends. These annual conferences also provide a networking platform for high tech professionals looking to learn from each other and expand their businesses. 

TrendForce consists of five major research divisions: DRAMeXchange, WitsView, LEDinside, EnergyTrend and AVANTI. Areas covered include DRAM, Flash, PC, smartphone, notebook, tablet, LCD TV, display panel, touchscreen technology, monitor-related industries, LED, lighting, solar energy, electric cars, lithium batteries, green energy industries, and online consumer behavior patterns in China. TrendForce’s team has some of the most knowledgeable specialists in these fields, and their effective and multifaceted research methods combine the newest trends in technological developments with insightful information on vendors and buyers. TrendForce also investigates targeted industries totally and at a global level, thus it is able to provide its clients the most comprehensive strategic business analyses. 

About Topology 

Topology Technology was established in March 1996 and was one of the earliest professional providers of industry intelligence in Taiwan. 

In 2002, Topology was renamed Topology Research Institute (TRI) and expanded its range of services with a focus on structural trends in high tech industries within the Greater China Region. Its five research divisions are semiconductor, photovoltaic technology, communication technology, IA, and regional markets. Due to the growing influence of China’s IT sector on the rest of the word in the recent years, Topology established a subsidiary in Shanghai in 2006 as to be closer to its Chinese clientele. The Shanghai office also provides international clients firsthand and in-depth analyses of China’s IT sector. 

Topology commands accurate information on industry and market trends across Europe, the United States, Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan. Its spot and dynamic analyses are specially tailored to the needs of the industries. This advantage allows Topology to become the key instrument for enterprises seeking to improve their performances and expand.