Taiwan looking at semiconductor cooperation with Eastern European nations
- While TSMC is building a US$12 billion chip plant in Arizona, it has given no suggestion of interest in a similar facility in Europe
- The European Commission has proposed legislation to boost chip production, and has angled for Taiwan’s involvement
Taiwan is looking at cooperating with three Eastern European countries on semiconductors, a minister said on Thursday, a move likely to find favour in Brussels which has been courting Taiwanese semiconductor firms to manufacture in the bloc.
Tech powerhouse Taiwan, home to companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), has become front and centre of efforts to resolve a shortage of chips that has shut some auto production lines around the world and whose impact is now being felt in consumer electronics too.
While TSMC is building a US$12 billion chip fabrication plant in the US state of Arizona, it has given no suggestion of interest in a similar facility in Europe, despite EU efforts to spur such investment.
Kung Ming-hsin, who heads Taiwan’s National Development Council, told reporters following his visit to Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania last month that all three countries had mentioned they wanted to work on chips with the island.
Taiwan will set up working groups with the three countries to work out how to cooperate on chips, while Taiwan will also give scholarships for technical training, he added.
“The whole semiconductor supply chain is enormous. Many countries can play different roles,” Kung said.