Microelectronics R&D blossoms in Taiwan

Microelectronics development has progressed rapidly during the past 30 years. Unlike several leading Western countries, with long standing microelectronics facilities, Taiwan´s microelectronics industry has grown in a very short time. In 1994, Taiwan´s IC production was 3.5 percent of the world´s semiconductor market. Based on the current growth rate, Taiwan will account for about 8 percent of the world´s semiconductor market in 2000. Taiwan´s rapidly growing microelectronics industry is the result of the unprecedented progress in microelectronics education in academic institutions, the strong infrastructure which has been designed for the country´s semiconductor industry, and its strong ties to both Japanese as well as western cultures. In order to compete in the IC industry, three basic elements are required-capital, manpower, and determination. Unlike other major industries, the microelectronics industry relies heavily on research and development (R&D). Thus, for an advanced IC company, high quality manpower is the key to success. Microelectronics education, therefore, is ultimately one of the most important factors for determining that success