The Silicon Dragon is a systematic study of the growth of high-tech giants in the Greater China Region, depicting the success story of the microelectronics industry in Taiwan. Literature and studies on Taiwan's success are surprisingly limited, and this book aims to fill this gap, addressing questions such as: How has Taiwan achieved such an outstanding performance in the information industry? How did Taiwan obtain and maintain its competitive advantage? What was the secret of success? What role did the government and manufacturers play during the development process? What insights can newcomers gain from these achievements? The book examines the government policies that acted as catalysts to the growth of high-tech industries in Taiwan, along with the roles of high-tech `incubators' and government-administered science parks. The authors provide case studies of high profile companies including Acer, Philips Semiconductors and Macronix International, and interviews with key decision makers to highlight the corporate strategies adopted in response to government policies and global commercial demand. Finally, insightful narratives on the birth and growth of a government-fostered strategic industry are provided, as is a synopsis of the Asian contribution to the evolution of the global microelectronics development. This book will strongly appeal to academics, researchers and students with an interest in engineering, technology and business management. Business managers and government officials will also find much to interest them in this book.
Author(s): Terence Tsai, Bor-Shiuan Cheng
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 236
Contents......Page 5
About the authors......Page 6
Preface......Page 11
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Abbreviations......Page 14
1. ‘Dragon appearing in the field’: the legend of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan......Page 17
2. ‘The cradle of technology’: the Industrial Technology Research Institute......Page 42
3. Science parks in Taiwan: HSIP and TSIP......Page 66
4. Macronix International Co. Ltd (MXIC)......Page 83
5. The model of Taiwan’s high-tech industry: TSMC......Page 94
6. Taiwan’s United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC)......Page 111
7. Partner in the ‘Chip Gold Rush’: Applied Materials Taiwan......Page 129
8. Philips Semiconductors Kaohsiung (PSK)......Page 157
9. Packing and testing in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry: the United Test Centre Inc. (UTC)......Page 169
10. The Acer Group’s manufacturing decision: to enter China?......Page 193
11. The Acer Group’s R&D strategy: the China decision......Page 213
12. ‘Dragon flying high’: carrying the legend to the new century......Page 233
Index......Page 243