August 12, 2005 – Silicon foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) recently submitted a plan to construct a 300mm wafer fab and a technology-development center at the Central Taiwan Science Park to the park’s administration, according to the Taiwan Economic News.

The NT$240 billion (US$7.7 billion) investment plan is expected to receive approval at a National Science Council meeting to be held tomorrow. The council, which is a Cabinet-level organization, regulates Taiwan’s science-based industrial parks.

People familiar with the TSMC’s investment plan pointed out that the facilities would be built on an 18-hectare site and the technology center would develop 60nm and 45nm process technologies. Construction is estimated to begin next year at the earliest.

The park’s administration pointed out that TSMC would have no difficulty acquiring land for its investment plan at the park since Taichung County’s land evaluation committee had lowered price of the park’s land to NT$4600 (US$148) per square meter from NT$4900 (US$158).

The administration once stopped the park’s second-phase project after learning the committee hiked the price to NT$4900 from NT$2500 (US$80). The second-phase project totally covers 80 hectares. The administration noted that the park’s first-phase land, totaling 167 hectares, was completely appropriated.