Sept. 2, 2002

Under the threat of an increasing exodus of manufacturing capacities to China, several leading IT and electronic makers in Taiwan are aggressively setting up global R&D centers in Taiwan at huge costs, several economic media report.

The Acer Group inaugurated its "Aspire Research Zone" in northern Taiwan and announced an investment of close to 300 million US$ in the coming five years and to recruit about 500 R&D professionals to staff it. Acer chairman Stan Shi said that this center would develop high value-added products and services for the group to help Acer to succeed in the fiercely competitive high-tech industry.

Wistron Corp., formerly an Acer design, manufacturing and service operation recently announced that it would invest at least US$ 88 million in R&D this year.

Hon Hai Precision Industrial Co. Ltd., largest connector and barebone PC maker, will spend US$ 176 million on R&D this year. The company is also expanding into fields, such as motherboards, wireless telecom devices, TFT-LCD panels, nanometer-level manufacturing, and optoelectronics.

First International Computer Inc. (FIC) a leading personal computer maker, plans to set up a global operation and R&D center in Taipei soon with an investment between US$ 147 million and 176 million in the coming few years to strengthen its R&D capabilities in Taiwan and China as well.

Mitac International Corp., a leading PC and motherboard maker plans to recruit about 500 specialist to boost future business development.