TSMC decides to build headquarters in HSBIP

Taipei, Jan. 19, 2005 (CENS)--Wafer-foundry giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) will set up its research and development headquarters in the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park (HSBIP), northern Taiwan, according to top executive of the park's administration.

J.M. Lee, director general of the park's administration, yesterday confirmed media reports that TSMC, currently the world's No. 1 suppler of contract chips, will open its R&D headquarters on a 8.5-hectare site at the park, around 100 kilometers south of Taiwan's capital city of Taipei.

The park is currently Taiwan's largest base for high-tech industries. Lee estimated the park's enterprises to have a combined revenue of NT$1 trillion (US$31.2 billion) or so for their 2004 operation. During Jan.-Oct. 2004, the park reported a revenue totaling NT$913.2 billion (US$28.5 billion), up 34% from 2003.

PowerChip Semiconductor Corp. (PSC) also decided to construct a 300-mm wafer factory at the park while Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp. (VISC) vowed to open a 200-mm wafer factory at the park.

The park's administration will spend NT$2.15 billion (US$67 million) on development of a recently appropriated 34-hectare site for the three significant investments. Lee expected the development work to be done by this summer.

The three chipmakers are estimated to invest a combination of NT$366 billion (US$11.4 billion) in their plans, which are estimated to create 9,500 jobs and turn out a total value of NT$140 billion (US$4.3 billion) in 2008.

Lee noted that at least 51 enterprises excluding the three chipmakers were still waiting on line for government approvals for their investments in the park, with nearly half of them registered as chip companies. They totally need at least one hectare of land for their investments, which are estimated at a combined NT$7.9 billion (US$246.8 million).

During Jan.-Nov. 2004 alone, the park received 43 new enterprises; 18 of which were chipmakers and 11 were optoelectronics makers.