ProAsia Semiconductor Corp (PASC, 積亞半導體) plans to invest NT$3 billion (US$107.63 million) to make chips using third-generation semiconductor materials at Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區), with an eye on the fast-growing electric vehicle, 5G and green energy markets, the Ministry of Science and Technology said yesterday.
ProAsia Semiconductor is a newly created subsidiary of Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor Corp (台亞半導體), a 30-year-old supplier of LED chips in Taiwan. Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor was formerly known as Optotech Corp (光磊科技) which made the renaming on Dec. 27 last year.
Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor’s board of directors in December approved a plan to indirectly invest NT$3.1 billion in ProAsia Semiconductor’s founding to make inroads into the new semiconductor material market.
ProAsia Semiconductor develops and makes MOSFET — metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors — and silicon carbide (SiC) Schottky diode modules, which are mainly used in electric vehicles, charging piles, smart grids and other auto parts, the ministry said in a statement.
“The company’s products have a technological advantage and good market potential, matching the world semiconductor industry’s pace in developing [third-generation semiconductors],” the ministry said. “The company is leveraging Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor’s LED chipmaking technology and Nichia’s compound semiconductor technology to make MOSFET and SiC.”
Nichia is to become a shareholder of ProAsia Semiconductor by subscribing to the Taiwanese firm's new shares, which would expand the latter's capital to NT$5 billion, the Chinese-language Commercial Times reported.
ProAsia Semiconductor also reportedly plans to build a 6-inch fab to produce gallium nitride (GaN) on SiC chips.
With the rapid uptake of electric vehicles, 5G-related applications and virtual-reality devices, third-generation semiconductor materials — made of SiC and GaN — have recently drawn the attention of industry experts and the media.
Third-generation semiconductor materials possess better physical and chemical characteristics, while offering faster switching speed, higher efficiency and fast heat dissipation compared with first-generation materials (silicon) and second-generation gallium arsenide, or GaAs.
The investment from ProAsia Semiconductor was the largest among the 12 investment projects totaling NT$8.51 billion that received the green light from the ministry.
Msscorps Co (汎銓科技), which specializes in material analysis in the semiconductor sector, is to invest NT$466 million in Hsinchu, making it the second-biggest investment project approved by the ministry yesterday.
Iscom Online International Information Inc (采威國際), a software developer focusing on cloud-based platform, 5G technology and artificial intelligence technology, came next. The company plans to invest NT$400 million to set up a research and development center in the Southern Taiwan Science Park (南部科學園區).
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