Recipients of this year’s ROC National Science Council R&D subsidies were announced July 24, further underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between Taiwan’s academic and private sectors.
The first recipient, National Taiwan University and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., proposes developing the 7 to 5 nanometer technology node. The other, National Cheng Kung University and Kaohsiung City-based China Steel Corp., proposes creating next-generation steel products, green manufacturing processes and innovative applications.
Commencing Aug. 1, the NSC will subsidize each recipient to a maximum of NT$80 million (US$2.67 million) per annum over five years. The funding will be matched dollar for dollar by the recipients.
According to an NSC official, the subsidies are helping sharpen the global technological competitiveness of Taiwan’s private sector and sustaining national economic growth.
“By channeling the R&D capabilities of the local academia into the business sector and initiating collaboration between the two, the subsidies will help develop key technological know-how for Taiwan’s high-tech firms and strengthen patent strategies.”
The NTU-TSMC project, led by former NTU President Li Si-chen, focuses on developing advanced design algorithms and process automation. It will also fast-track TSMC efforts in migrating into 7-5 nm technology.
“This project is set to assist the chipmaker maintain its competitive edge in nanotechnology and lay the foundation for Taiwan’s semiconductor leadership in the following two decades,” the official said.
The NCKU-CSC collaboration will raise the state-run steel firm’s percentage of high-quality products from 44.3 percent to 55 percent, and increase sector output from NT$1.3 trillion to NT$1.6 trillion by 2020.
Taiwan’s steel sector is a major national industry, with CSC playing a central role in sector development and employing more than 40,000 people. (SFC-JSM)
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