A semiconductor supply chain cluster was launched by the National Science and Technology Council, Pingtung County Government and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. May 19 at the Pingtung Science Park in southern Taiwan, marking a milestone on the county’s progress toward high-tech industrial development.
Premier Cho Jung-tai delivered an address at the event attended by more than 200 academics, business representatives, experts and officials. He said that, led by TSMC, MediaTek Inc. and ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd., Taiwan has built a complete supply chain covering integrated circuit design, wafer manufacturing, packaging, and testing that firmly secures its position in the global semiconductor industry.
The premier called southern Taiwan key to supporting the sector’s competitiveness and elaborated on the strengths of Pingtung’s geographical advantages and development potential. The Ministry of Transportation has plans to expedite the construction of a second expressway and extend Taiwan High Speed Rail to Pingtung to enhance links between the county and Kaohsiung City, he said, adding that hooking Pingtung into the semiconductor corridor across southern Taiwan will further accelerate the county’s industrial transformation and boost Taiwan’s economic growth.
Following his remarks, NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wen said the new cluster will focus on adopting comprehensive supply chain deployment, boosting high-tech facility construction, implementing smart manufacturing and promoting circular resource management. The location and operations of semiconductor enterprises in the cluster will generate more employment opportunities, encourage overseas talents to return and deepen collaborations between academia and industry to drive sustainable industrial development in southern Taiwan, he added.
According to the NSTC, it is working with the Executive Yuan to promote the “Greater Southern Taiwan New Silicon Valley Promotion Plan” and continue shaping Taiwan into an artificial intelligence hub. Based in Shalun, Tainan, the plan integrates technological innovation with industrial cluster development to connect science and industrial parks across Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung, the council said.
Under the plan, the new cluster will be closely integrated with the industries around the THSR’s Pingtung Station Special Zone, which will inject fresh momentum into Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, it added. (YCH-E)
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