Taiwan Science Parks to Generate NTD3 Trillion by 2011

Staggering figures from the National Science Council estimate more than 50% growth in production value from the three major science parks in Taiwan. They estimate the production value this year is around NT$1.222 trillion (about US$40 billion)and will be NT2.178 trillion (approximately USD70 billion) for the year. They expect this figure to grow to NTD3 trillion (USD100 billion) in 2011. That is large growth. The China Economic News writes:

With stable production growth, Taiwan`s big three science parks, namely Hsinchu Science Park (HSP), Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) and Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP), are expected to generate aggregate production value of NT$3 trillion in 2011,the Cabinet-level National Science Council estimated.

Despite an economic depression in the world this year, the three science parks still posted a total of NT$1.222 trillion in overall production value in the first half of the year, up 17.16% from a year earlier. The combined annual production value is likely to hit an all-time high of NT$2.178 trillion for entire this year.

Separately, the IC (integrated circuit) industry in the three science parks contributed the largest portion of NT$485.5 billion, or 47.5%, to the total production value for the first half, up 6.46% from a year earlier. The optoelectronics industry infused NT$451.9 billion, or 44.22%, into the total, sharply up 37.12%, in the same span.

In the second half, a couple of semiconductor manufacturing companies, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp., and Powerchip Semiconductor Corp., will boost their investments in HSP to NT$450 billion in HSP. Also, TSMC and United Microelectronics Corp. are planning to set up 12-inch wafer fabrication plants in STSP.

In the meantime, optoelectronics firms, including Innolux Display Corp., Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp., Wintek Corp. and Toppan CFI Taiwan, will carry out capacity expansion at their display panel plants in the three parks.

According to National Science Council, in 2011, an estimated 800 companies with a total of 300,000 workers will operate in the three science parks, generating production value of up to NT$3 trillion that year.

Considering these parks were just a dream 35 years ago, their growth has been impressive.

China Economic News: Production Value of Taiwan`s Big 3 Science Parks to Hit NT$3 T. in 2011