Chip centre has designs on turning Hong Kong into a hub of innovation

The government-funded Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp (HKSTP), backed by a clutch of technology partners led by Sun Microsystems and PCCW, has set up a chip-design centre aimed at galvanising semiconductor innovation in Hong Kong.

The Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Centre is to be opened today at phase one of the Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin, with an eye to luring local and overseas firms to do chip research and development.

HKSTP chief executive Tam Chung-ding said the initiative could create up to 2,000 new chip-design jobs in Hong Kong over the next three years.

Mr Tam said all those involved in the centre were upbeat about the centre's prospects, noting that multimedia IC specialist RedRock Semiconductor of Silicon Valley and local firm Dragonchip were the first to start work at the site.

'The Sars outbreak has delayed the move of other IC firms to the centre,' he said. 'But we still expect to sign up 15 to 20 more chip companies this year.'

To cut the cost of semiconductor development, the IC Design Centre will provide users with electronic design automation software licences and support services, including a data centre and space for IC design training.