Czechia, Taiwan ink nanotechnology MOU

Business groups from Czechia and Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on semiconductor cooperation in Taipei on Thursday, 1 February. At a seminar on semiconductor investments in Czechia, Taiwan semiconductor material supplier TOPOC Scientific Co and TeaLa signed the MOU with the Czech National Semiconductor Cluster (CNSC).

TeaLa and TOPOC chairman J.W. Kuo called the Czech semiconductor industry’s prospects “promising”, due to location, industrial and economic strength, and regional supply chain synergy. Czechia should build science parks like Taiwan did, Kuo said, adding that Taiwan’s semiconductor industry began to think seriously about Czechia after Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) announced construction plans for a wafer plant in Dresden, east Germany, near the Czech border, last August.

Bilateral relations, trade links, set to strengthen further

Taiwan and Czechia jointly established an office to build a semiconductor supply chain in the latter country in November. Taiwanese Deputy Economics Minister Chen Chern-chyi said the two countries have shared values and mutual trust and have forged close business ties, especially since direct flights between Taiwan and Czechia were launched last year. Czechia has a large pool of quality workers, Chen added.

Taiwanese companies have already invested in Czechia, Chen noted, including Asus, electronics maker Wistron Corp, and iPhone assemblers Hon Hai Precision Industry Co and Pegatron Corp.

The Dresden project has received high levels of support from the German government. Construction of the vehicle and industrial device chips plant is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2024, and commercial production to begin at the end of 2027. It will use 12nm (nanometer), 16nm, 22nm, and 28nm processes, Focus Taiwan reported.

TSMC – in a joint venture with Germany’s Robert Bosch and Infineon Technologies, as well as Dutch NXP Semiconductors – recently established European Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (ESMC). As of next year, TSMC’s Taiwanese suppliers will provide services to the chipmaker and other large regional clients.