MOEA: Taiwan becoming 12-inch silicon wafer cluster

November 28, 2005

With intense competition in the global semiconductor industry, Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturers are busy expanding their operations. The MOEA says that, with companies including Inotera Memories Inc., Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. and ProMOS Technologies building new 12-inch silicon wafer fabs, Taiwan could have fifteen or more such plants by 2008. This would make Taiwan the world's largest cluster of 12-inch fabs.

The ministry points out that Inotera kicked off construction of its second 12-inch fab this year, Powerchip has presented plans for a set of twin 12-inch plants, while ProMOS Technologies is preparing to build its third 12-inch fab.

Noting that Intel, the world's leading semiconductor maker, already has three 12-inch plants in operation and that they use 65-nanometer technology, the MOEA says that the 12-inch plants operated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and United Microelectronics Corp. also use 65-nanometer technology.

(United Daily News)

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