The Taipei City government has launched a “Taipei Technology Corridor” project that it hopes will turn Taiwan’s capital city into a knowledge-based high-tech hub and create a favorable international investment environment.
Chen Hsiung-wen (陳雄文), director of the city’s Department of Economic Development, said the goal is to develop Taipei City into a global high-tech, research and development (R&D) and business operations stronghold by capitalizing on its ideal location within Asia, business-friendly environment, strong human and capital resources and sound Internet infrastructure.
TAKING SHAPE
The 893.3 hectare corridor will stretch from the Neihu Technology Park (內湖科技園區) to the Kuandu Industrial Zone (關渡工業區), connecting the Nangang Software Park (南港軟體園區) and the planned Shihlin-Beitou Technology Park (士林北投科技園區), according to the city government.
With the corridor increasingly taking shape, more information, biotechnology, communications and cultural innovation companies have set up shops in these parks, Chen said.
Citing the 150 hectare Neihu Technology Park as an example of the corridor’s potential, Chen said it has become a cluster for high-tech businesses, an operations center for the global electronics industry and the hub of Taiwan’s telecommunications industry.
A total of 3,446 enterprises, (including 26 business headquarters and 12 research centers) operate in the park, with a production value of NT$2.7 trillion (US$83.85 billion) per year.
The Nangang Software Park is designed to attract biotechnology, IC design and digital content firms. In addition, the Taipei City government is planning to position it as an Asian Software Park and an Asian R&D center.
CLUSTER EFFECT
Currently, 275 companies, including four business headquarters and six R&D centers, have moved into the park, racking up NT$182.6 billion in revenues in 2007.
To strengthen the park’s cluster effect, a third-stage expansion project was completed in September 2008 and is expected to generate an annual production of US$1.86 billion.
The planned Shilin-Beitou Technology Park, the third high-tech compound in Taipei City after the Neihu and Nangang technology parks, will be located on a 195 hectare plot.
It will comprise knowledge-based companies in the biotechnology, media and telecommunications sectors and create an estimated 35,000 jobs after its completion, which is projected for 2015.
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