Shacking Things Up: Taiwan and US Form AI-powered Partnership to Bridge Semiconductor Gap
- By Fang Wei-li / Staff Reporter
Agreement on economic matters celebrated by government official during Texas conference
An economic cooperation agreement inked by Taiwan's Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) and the Texas Association of Business secures Taiwan's role in non-China supply chains, as stated by Taiwan's Foreign Affairs Minister Lin Chia-lung during the signing ceremony in Texas on Friday.
Lin, leading a delegation from the AI Innovation & Application Alliance, the Taipei-based Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA), and TEEMA, was in the US to attend the Taiwan-Texas Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Forum. Organized by TEEMA, the Texas association, and Opportunity Austin, the forum attracted industrial representatives, academics, and officials from both countries.
In attendance were US Representative Pete Sessions, Texas Representative Angie Chen Button, TEEMA chairman Richard Lee, CIECA chairman Lyu Jye-cherng, and representatives from American tech companies.
Lin emphasized the significance of AI in national security and economic development. He cited the ambitious AI programs of the Trump administration, such as the AI Action Plan (the Stargate Project) and investments by tech firms like Nvidia and Apple that exceed $1.5 trillion, as a revolutionizing force in the industry.
Taiwan, Lin said, should not only seize the business opportunities offered by the AI industry but also invest in the US to incorporate local technology, funding, and talent. This strategic move would give Taiwan a competitive edge and integrate it more closely into the US innovation ecosystem, boosting the value of all industries.
To win in the global AI competition, Taiwan plans to provide advanced AI semiconductor manufacturing techniques and server assembly, alongside joint ventures with the US. Lin explained that this alliance would strengthen the U.S.'s leading position in AI and cement Taiwan's importance in non-China supply chains.
Leveraging the "Taiwan-US combined fleet" strategy proposed by Taiwan's President William Lai, Taiwan and the US can mutually benefit by collaborating on establishing this economic partnership.
During the visit, Lin observed the abundant talent, diverse energy systems, and low-tax environment in Texas, painting a picture of potential cooperation opportunities. He and Sessions witnessed the signing of the TEEMA-Texas Association of Business agreement, an essential step toward strengthening economic ties, according to Lin.
GlobalWafers Co's wafer fabrication facility in Texas is awaiting operations, while the SelectUSA Investment Summit, a drone exhibition, and an agricultural procurement group visit are planned for the state. An initiative to build a "Taiwan Tower" in Texas, a hub for Taiwanese companies investing in the state, is also underway.
Following the signing of a bipartisan statement supporting Taiwan by the New Hampshire State Senate, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston Director-General Charles Liao expressed his gratitude for the Senate's support. This marks the first such statement from the New Hampshire State Senate in a decade.
AIT Managing Director Ingrid Larson joined Lin's delegation to meet with Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, Texas State Senate member Carol Alvarado, and Button.
As both Taiwan and the US collaborate in AI and semiconductor manufacturing, they solidify their positions in non-China supply chains, reduce dependency on any single geographical region, and enhance resilience against geopolitical pressures. Simultaneously, the partnership drives innovation in AI technologies by integrating Taiwanese semiconductor expertise into US-based AI infrastructure development. This strategic alliance allows both countries to capitalize on each other's strengths and navigate the complexities of the global semiconductor and AI landscapes more effectively.
- The Taiwan-Texas AI Innovation Forum, attended by Lin and his delegation, brought together industrial representatives, academics, and officials from both Taiwan and the US to discuss potential collaborations.
- Lin highlighted the need for Taiwan to invest in the US to incorporate local technology, funding, and talent, which would give Taiwan a competitive edge and integrate it more closely into the US innovation ecosystem.
- By collaborating on establishing this economic partnership, Taiwan and the US can significantly cut their dependency on China, enhancing resilience against geopolitical pressures, and capitalize on each other's strengths in the global semiconductor and AI landscapes.
- The development of AI and AI-powered semiconductor manufacturing techniques by Taiwan, in collaboration with the US, will play a crucial role in the countries' positions in non-China supply chains and their drive for innovation in AI technologies.
