Taiwan plans chip cooperation with Eastern European countries, Telecom News, ET Telecom

TAIPEI: Taiwan plans to cooperate with three Eastern European countries on semiconductors, a minister said on Thursday, a move likely to be favored by Brussels which is courting Taiwanese semiconductor companies to manufacture in the block.

The Taiwan Technology Powerhouse, home to companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), has become the focus of efforts to address a chip shortage that has shut down some automotive production lines around the world and whose impact is continuing. is now being felt among consumers. electronic too.

As TSMC builds a $ 12 billion chipmaking plant in the US state of Arizona, it has given no suggestions of interest in a similar facility in Europe, despite EU efforts https : //www.reuters.com/technology/eu-appeals- shared-values-attempt-taiwans-chip-firms-2021-10-14 to stimulate such an investment.

Kung Ming-hsin, who heads the National Development Council of Taiwan, told reporters after his visit to Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania last month that the three countries had mentioned that they wanted to work on chips with the ‘Isle.

Taiwan will set up working groups with the three countries to determine how to cooperate on chips, while Taiwan will also offer scholarships for technical training, he added.

“The whole semiconductor supply chain is huge. Many countries can play different roles,” Kung said.

Taiwan was keen to express its gratitude to the three countries for their donation of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as support from Lithuania and the Czech Republic as Taiwan faced growing political pressure from China.

Neither the EU nor its member states have formal diplomatic relations with China’s claimed and democratically ruled Taiwan, but Taipei has sought to strengthen relations with the bloc by emphasizing their shared values ​​of freedom and democracy.

The European Commission has proposed legislation to boost chip production and has looked into Taiwan’s involvement.

Kung said it would be difficult for Europe to do it alone.

“They therefore hope to cooperate with Taiwan,” he added.