Taiwan is planning a 10-year initiative aimed at increasing its global IC design market share from approximately 20 percent at present to 40 percent by 2033, including an 80 percent share of the advanced semiconductor sector.

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), which put together the plan, is hoping to launch it in 2024, but it still has to be reviewed and approved by the Executive Yuan and its budget approved by the Legislative Yuan.

At a press conference Tuesday, NSTC head Wu Tsung-tsong said the goal of the project is to establish Taiwan as a pivotal hub for integrated circuit (IC) design.

The project's first phase, to last five years, would focus on creating semiconductor centers, developing talent, and establishing related infrastructure at the Industrial Technology Research Institute, he said.

The second phase would be aimed at helping Taiwan reach an IC design global market share of around 40 percent by 2033, and achieving an 80 percent global market share for advanced semiconductors of 7 nanometers or below, he said.

The long-term plan is aimed at extending semiconductor chip development into various fields, including enhancing medical precision, reducing costs, and shortening IC and semiconductor production times, Wu said.

Under the plan, Taiwan also hopes to cement its leading position in the semiconductor industry and lay the groundwork for the country's future development by integrating chip technology and generative AI, the NSTC said.

If the plan becomes a reality, the NSTC wants to give it a budget of NT$12 billion (US$376.5 million) in its first year. It did not provide an estimate of how much it would cost over the plan's full 10 years.

By: DocMemory
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