Hsinchu: The Hsinchu County-based Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) broke ground on its Advanced Semiconductor R and D Base, a NT$3.772 billion (US$119.57 million) publicly funded project. The facility is expected to be completed by December 2027, with phased operations beginning in the first quarter of 2028.
According to Focus Taiwan, Premier Cho Jung-tai revealed that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has played a significant role in supporting the establishment of the R and D base. TSMC has donated three 12-inch advanced-process semiconductor development tools and has provided extensive assistance and guidance on plant design and construction.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin and National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen. Representatives from leading semiconductor firms such as TSMC, United Microelectronics Corp., Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp., Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., Nanya Technology Corp., and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. were also present, along with various equipment suppliers.
Kuo Chao-chung, director-general of the Department of Industrial Technology under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, stated that the facility will focus on three key missions: innovation trial production and verification for integrated circuit (IC) design, development of advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes, and localized verification of semiconductor equipment and materials. The new facility is expected to help semiconductor companies reduce product development timelines by around 30%, thereby strengthening Taiwan's semiconductor innovation ecosystem and supply chain resilience.
Kuo further explained that the project underwent two years of planning and will feature a building with an eight-meter ceiling height, a floor load capacity of two metric tons per square meter, and an independent seismic-resistant structure. The construction of the building itself will cost NT$688 million, while cleanroom facilities will account for NT$3.084 billion, making the total investment NT$3.772 billion.
The base will also include pilot production lines for advanced semiconductor processes, submicron sensing chips, and advanced packaging, as well as laboratories for inspection, measurement, and verification, according to Kuo.