TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The National Science and Technology Council announced that the combined revenue of Hsinchu Science Park, Central Taiwan Science Park, and Southern Taiwan Science Park reached NT$4.76 trillion (US$ 158.67 billion) last year, per CNA.
The council said the figure set a record, with a 20.73% year-on-year increase. Hsinchu Science Park's revenue reached around NT$1.5 trillion, up 6.66%; Central Taiwan Science Park generated NT$1.3 trillion, a 10.22% increase; and Southern Taiwan Science Park saw NT$2.2 trillion, up 39.55%, the first time it surpassed NT$2 trillion.
The integrated circuit sector generated the highest revenue, reaching NT$3.8 trillion, a 25.4% year-over-year increase, the council said. Increased demand for high-performance computing and AI applications drove the growth.
The optoelectronics sector saw a 6.89% revenue growth, driven by increased prices and production volume of large-sized panels.
The computer and components industry benefited from growth in cloud services and AI server demand, with revenue increasing by 8.02% last year. The precision machinery industry saw a 15.03% revenue growth, driven by the expansion of semiconductor wafer fabs.
The biotechnology sector experienced a 9.64% revenue growth, fueled by higher vaccine production, pharmaceutical exports, and medical device sales.
The telecommunications industry saw a 25.11% revenue decline due to manufacturers shifting production to Southeast Asia. The council predicts increased demand for cloud and communication infrastructure will likely improve the industry's performance.
Last year, the export value of the three science parks reached NT$3.44 trillion, a 29.57% increase. The council said the growth was primarily due to the surge in exports of advanced chips and related products.
Additionally, expansion by some domestic tech giants led to increased demand for equipment, with imports to the three science parks reaching NT$2.4 trillion, a 35.33% increase.
The council predicts that industries within the science parks will continue to grow, driven by advanced chip manufacturing and AI development. However, growth is likely to be hindered by new US tariffs, trade restrictions, and geopolitical risks.
