Plans to provide local chip design and basic training in Prague under the Taiwan Chip-based Industrial Innovation Program (Taiwan CbI) in October have reportedly been affected due to the Czech Republic's recent change in government officials. Cheng-Wen Wu, Minister of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), stated that both parties are working to reach a solution and hope to finalize plans by the end of December.
Wu explained that the plan to establish a chip design training base in Prague was part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) Taiwan-Czech resilience project. Although some content requires adjustments, plans should be finalized by December, and academic cooperation between the two countries has not been affected.
According to an unnamed government official, Taiwan and the Czech Republic designed a five-year plan in 2022 to strengthen the latter's semiconductor industry. Through this initiative, Taiwan aims to increase business opportunities from Europe and secure Taiwan-trained talents for future expansion when manufacturers move into the Czech Republic and Central and Eastern Europe. The government will allocate funding for related activities.
Local media in the Czech Republic reported that since Prague is in close proximity to Germany's semiconductor hub Dresden, the Czech government plans to triple chip production, increase the workforce from 6,000 to 9,000, and double semiconductor exports by 2029. EUR12 million (approx. US$12.6 million) will be invested annually into chip R&D, and the government will provide a strategic investment of EUR800 million from 2025 to 2027.
According to overseas governmental offices, the Czech Republic has an unemployment rate of only about 2.3% with a population of 10.88 million, indicating a severe labor shortage. The automotive industry is the Czech Republic's main export, with 90% of exports going to Europe.
On September 19, 2024, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the Czech Republic to facilitate collaboration in areas including nuclear energy, high-speed rails, next-generation automotives, batteries, hydrogen energy, robots, and the rebuilding of Ukraine. The Czech Republic aims to increase its nuclear power percentage from 30% to 50%.
