Tainan plans major science park to support 1nm chip fab demand
NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wen says the new park will support advanced semiconductor development, but its location, construction timeline and investment scale have yet to be announced.
Taiwan’s semiconductor footprint is expected to expand further south. National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen said the government is planning a major new science park in Tainan, with preparations expected to begin in 2027 to meet future demand for 1nm chip fabs and support the development of advanced semiconductor industries.
According to Central News Agency reporting on the evening of Nov. 2, Wu made the remarks at the opening of the 2026 IEEE Asian Solid-State Circuits Conference. He said the three science park administrations under the NSTC currently oversee 18 parks, and that a larger science park in Tainan would be added in the future.
Wu said preparations for the new park are expected to begin next year, primarily to meet demand related to the construction of 1nm chip fabs. The plan highlights Taiwan’s continued efforts to reserve industrial space and infrastructure for next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.
He also noted that Taiwan-based companies hold an important position in the global AI server supply chain, with a global market share of more than 90%. Taiwan also has key competitive advantages in wafer manufacturing and advanced semiconductor technologies.
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry has historically developed through the combined efforts of science parks, research institutions and higher education. The industry-academia cooperation model involving Hsinchu Science Park, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, National Tsing Hua University and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University has long been regarded as a key foundation of the sector’s growth.
As AI computing demand continues to rise, demand is also increasing for advanced processes, chip design, packaging and testing, as well as the related equipment supply chain. If the Tainan science park plan moves forward, it could help expand the southern technology cluster and drive demand for surrounding land development, transportation, electricity and water infrastructure.
However, 1nm manufacturing still faces challenges involving technology research and development, equipment investment, energy supplies and environmental assessments. The new park’s exact location, development timeline, investment scale and related review procedures have yet to be announced by the relevant authorities.