First International Computer Inc (FIC,
The center will develop notebook PCs for sale in the global market, a Chinese-language newspaper reported yesterday, citing chairman Chien Min-jen (
The goal for establishing a R&D center in China comes as demand for PCs in the biggest consumer market booms and China becomes attractive as a pool for high-tech manpower and not just a source for manufactured products. China expects its economy to grow between 7 percent and 8 percent this year, compared with 1.5 percent growth expected in the US and a minus 0.37 percent in Taiwan.
"I think the mechanism of collaboration across the [Taiwan] Strait has gradually expanded to the R&D field from manufacturing," Chien was quoted as saying.
FIC, who makes desktop and notebook computers for overseas clients such as NEC Corp, currently produces notebook PCs in Suzhou's export processing zone on a trial basis.
In the mean time, it is working to build new factories, hoping to start mass production sometime next year once the government of Taiwan gives the green light, the paper said.
In addition, the company is also currently Legend Holdings Ltd's (聯想集團) -- China's largest maker of personal computers -- biggest notebook PC supplier and has focused on the company as part of its growth strategy, local media reported recently citing an FIC official.
FIC currently has Taiwan R&D centers in both of its Taipei headquarters and Linkou factories, hiring some 200 workers. The company is planning to hire 300 workers at its R&D center in China when it is scheduled to start operation sometime in July-August next year, the paper said.
According to Chien, the planned R&D center in China will focus on developing product specifications which are most cost efficient. Indeed, amid cut-throat competition Taiwan companies including FIC have tried to ensure low contract prices for foreign buyers such as NEC, IBM Corp, Sun Microsystems Inc and Gateway Inc.
And this is particularly true in recent months as slowing worldwide economic growth has put added pressure on companies to cut costs, he said.
As for its R&D centers in Taiwan, Chien said FIC's local team will focus on the development of new product specifications for contract customers. They will also be responsible for high-end product development, he said.
The domestic unit of the Chinese-owned, Dutch-headquartered chipmaker Nexperia BV will soon be able to produce semiconductors locally within China, according to two company sources. Nexperia is at the center of a global tug-of-war over critical semiconductor technology, with a Dutch court in February ordering a probe into alleged mismanagement at the company. The geopolitical tussle has disrupted supply chains, with some carmakers reportedly forced to cut production due to chip shortages. Local production would allow Nexperia’s domestic arm, Nexperia Semiconductors (China) Ltd (安世半導體中國), to bypass restrictions in place since October on the supply of silicon wafers — etched with tiny components to
Singapore-based ride-hailing and delivery giant Grab Holdings Ltd has applied for regulatory approval to acquire the Taiwan operations of Germany-based Delivery Hero SE's Foodpanda in a deal valued at about US$600 million. Grab submitted the filing to the Fair Trade Commission on Friday last week, with the transaction subject to regulatory review and approval, the company said in a statement yesterday. Its independent governance structure would help foster a healthy and competitive market in Taiwan if the deal is approved, Grab said. Grab, which is listed on the NASDAQ, said in the filing that US-based Uber Technologies Inc holds about 13 percent of
Taiwan is open to joining a global liquefied natural gas (LNG) program if one is created, but on the condition that countries provide delivery even in a scenario where there is a conflict with China, an energy department official said yesterday. While Taiwan’s priority is to have enough LNG at home, the nation is open to exploring potential strategic reserves in other countries such as Japan or South Korea, Energy Administration Deputy Director-General Chen Chung-hsien (陳崇憲) said. While the LNG market does not have a global reserve for emergencies like that of oil, the concept has been raised a few times —
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday received government approval to deploy its advanced 3-nanometer (3nm) process at its second fab currently under construction in Japan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a news release. The ministry green-lit the plan for the facility in Kumamoto, which is scheduled to start installing equipment and come online in 2028 with a monthly production capacity of 15,000 12-inch wafers, the ministry said. The Department of Investment Review in June 2024 authorized a US$5.26 billion investment for the facility, slated to manufacture 6- to 12nm chips, significantly less advanced than 3nm process. At a meeting with
RSS