IT Geographics

Taiwan is packed with industrial districts. More than 80 individual industrial districts, science parks and export processing areas are currently operating in Taiwan, with more than 20 under construction and even more in the planning stage.

Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park (HSIP):

Established in 1980, the Hsinchu Science-Based Iindustrial Park has been thcenter of Taiwan's high-tech industrial development in recent years. In year 2000, during the celebrations marking the park's 20th year in operation, former chairperson of HSIP, Mr. Irving Ho remarked that the return of investment ratio of the part exceeds that of Silicon Valley in the US. Capital investment over the last 20 years of NT$655 billion (US$19.8 billion) has produced revenues of NT$ 3-4 trillion (US$91-121 billion), contributing an astounding 10 percent to Taiwan's GNP.

In 2000, there is around 290 private companies and national laboratories, employing over 90,000 people. Hig-tech manfacturing industry dominates the park, yet, R&D has a 6 % of total coast at the park. Major industries located in the park including integrated-circuit production, PC and peripherals, telecommunications, opto-electronics, precision machinery, and biotechnology.

 

Tainan Science-Based Industrial Park (TSIP)

Operated in 1997, orginally planned as an agricultural biotech center, Tainan Science-Based Industrial Park is the response to rapid high-tech industry development in taiwan and to guarantee balanced development bwtween the north and the south. Many academic insitituions are close to TSIP, including National Cheng Kung University, National Sun Yat-Sen University and the Asian Vegetable Research Insitute.

The TSIP is an area of 638 hectares, with a planned expansion of a further 440 hectares. Together with the surrounding special zone reachs the total area of 3,299 hectares. The TSIP is attracting companies from the semi-conductor, computer and peripheral, telecommunication, optoelectronic, precision instrument, and biothecnology industries. The special zone plan aims at a sound development considering the Tainan local culture and creating a high-tech city, whihc combines science and technology with culture.