July 27, 2000

Taipei - - Shilin Electric & Engineering Corp., Taipei, will invest NT$ 400 to 500 million to produce smart cards based on ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) technology, licensed from Fujitsu Ltd. Of Japan, the company's chairwoman Suzsanne Hsu announced in Taipei.

Fujitsu's FRAM technology can be applied to electronic identification cards, tickets, telephone cardes, mobile telephone subscirber identification modules (SIM) and video game cards, Mrs. Hsu added. She said she negociated the technology transfer with Fujitsu during an recent visit to Japan.

The main characteristic of FRAM chips is that they are "non-volatile", meaning that they retain data even when switched off.

Shilin Electric, a prominent firm in Taiwan, known since decade for automotive electric products and circuit breakers, will continue to see technology and cooperative ties with Japan, Mrs. Hsu said.