On September 4, 2024, ITRI, SIIQ, and the Kyushu Semiconductor Human Resource Development Consortium jointly organized a symposium aimed at engaging in scholarly and technical exchanges at SEMICON 2024, the 2024 International Taiwan-Japan Semiconductor Technology Symposium.
The Symposium was conducted under the guidance of MOEA's DoIT, and special invitations were extended to National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Kyushu University, and other Taiwanese and Japanese academic institutions. The focus of the symposium featured in-depth technical discussions on "Semiconductor Equipment Technology" by key figures from the industry, academia, research sectors, and leading semiconductor equipment manufacturers from Taiwan and Japan.
According to SEMICON's official website, the objective of the symposium was to "provide diverse pathways for building the Taiwan-Japan semiconductor supply chain ecosystem, foster bilateral R&D collaboration, enhance international competitiveness, and strengthen the resilience of the domestic industrial chain." The event also aimed to promote the development of an environment conducive to the cultivation of professional technical talent.
MOU between ITRI, Kyushu produces promising partnership
ITRI's executive vice president, Jwu-Sheng Hu, stated that ITRI has invested in the research and development of semiconductors for a long time, honing its technical and industrial experience. Meanwhile, SIIQ has nearly 300 in-house institutions, including globally large manufacturers such as Sony and Mitsubishi Electric who are in control of Kyushu's new technical development trend.
ITRI signed an MOU with SIIQ, Kyushu University, and NYCU last September, setting down a strong base for diverse collaboration, and multiple results have been achieved since. ITRI will continue to collaborate with Taiwan-Japan production research and development to achieve technological breakthroughs and innovative business opportunities.
DoIT's director general, Chyou-Huey Chiou, stated that it can be expected that investments in Kyushu will continue to be made by Taiwanese semiconductor supply chain manufacturers following TSMC's Kumamoto investment.
According to data from the Kyushu Economic Research Center, semiconductor-related investments in the Kyushu, Okinawa, and Yamaguchi areas are estimated to reach JPY6 trillion (US$42 billion), creating an output value of JPY20 trillion, accentuating the partnership between Taiwan and Japan as well as Kyushu's potential.
Deputy representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Takashi Hattori, stated that semiconductors have become a key technology in modern life. With AI on the rise, server demands have greatly increased, and front-end semiconductor processes are expected to significantly grow as well. Kyushu was previously known as Japan's Silicon Island, and Taiwan's semiconductor technology could help push it back onto the global stage.
President of the SIIQ, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, stated that after signing the MOU with ITRI last year, there have been a lot of exchanges and visits between both parties, and he hopes that the industries, governments, and universities can cooperate to push forward technical partnership and talent development in the semiconductor area, promote the development of the semiconductor industry, and drive forward economical growth in Taiwan and Japan.
Through technological exchanges and close collaboration in the semiconductor area, Taiwan and Japan demonstrated the consensus and direction both parties hold regarding technological innovation and industry chain integration during the symposium. ITRI stated that it hopes to build a tenacious and innovative semiconductor ecosystem together, deepen the strategic partnership with Japan in the semiconductor area, progress technological innovation, and further promote stable supply chain development.
