Southern Taiwan Science Park

Southern Taiwan Science Park
Name	Southern Taiwan Science Park
Native name	南部科學工業園區
Established	1996
Location	Kaohsiung City; Tainan City; Pingtung County, Taiwan
Area	1,700 hectares (approx.)

Southern Taiwan Science Park is a multi-site high-technology park in southern Taiwan that concentrates advanced manufacturing, semiconductor fabrication, optoelectronics, and biotechnology. Founded in the mid-1990s, the park links clusters in Kaohsiung City, Tainan City, and Pingtung County and serves as a regional complement to Hsinchu Science Park and Taiwan's industrial development strategy. The park has attracted multinational corporations, Taiwanese conglomerates, and academic research institutes, fostering collaboration with National Cheng Kung University, National Sun Yat-sen University, and Institute of Nuclear Energy Research.

History

The park was proposed amid Taiwan’s 1990s technological expansion influenced by policies from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan), echoes of earlier efforts such as Hsinchu Science Park (1980) and initiatives tied to the Ten Major Construction Projects. Early planning involved consultations with stakeholders including Industrial Technology Research Institute and local governments in Kaohsiung City and Tainan County. Initial construction phases were driven by investments from firms like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and United Microelectronics Corporation, alongside incentives modeled after Export Processing Zone (Taiwan) frameworks. Environmental and land-use controversies involved groups such as the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association and prompted mediation with municipal authorities including the Kaohsiung City Government. Expansion rounds in the 2000s and 2010s incorporated new zones near Tainan Science Park sites and partnerships with international firms including Sony Semiconductor, Micron Technology, and ASE Technology Holding.

Location and Geography

Primary sites occupy coastal and inland areas across Nanzih District, Luzhu District, Yanchao District in Kaohsiung, and areas adjacent to Xinshi District and Anding District in Tainan City, with satellite facilities extending toward Pingtung County near Neipu Township. The park’s geography includes reclaimed coastal plains, river terraces associated with the Love River, and industrial zones adjacent to the Port of Kaohsiung and Kaohsiung International Airport. Terrain considerations required coordination with agencies like the Water Resources Agency and Environmental Protection Administration (Taiwan) to manage floodplains and wetland habitats recognized by conservationists such as the Wild Bird Society of Tainan. Proximity to transport corridors such as the Taiwan High Speed Rail, National Freeway 1 (Taiwan), and Taiwan Railway Administration lines shapes commuting patterns.

Governance and Administration

Administrative oversight involves a mix of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan), the National Science and Technology Council, and local authorities including the Kaohsiung City Government and Tainan City Government. Land allocation and industrial regulation follow statutes like regulations promulgated by the Industrial Development Bureau (Taiwan). Park management coordinates with state research entities including the Industrial Technology Research Institute and educational partners such as National Cheng Kung University and National Sun Yat-sen University for workforce development. Investment promotion has engaged trade bodies like the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and financial institutions such as the Bank of Taiwan and China Development Industrial Bank for incentives and financing programs.

Major Industries and Companies

Key industry sectors include semiconductor foundry and packaging led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, United Microelectronics Corporation, and Powerchip Technology Corporation; optoelectronics involving companies like Epson Optics partners; compound semiconductor and LED firms associated with Epistar; flat panel and display-related suppliers connected to AU Optronics; and precision manufacturing firms such as Foxconn affiliates. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical startups collaborate with centers like Tainan Biomedical Science Park initiatives and companies influenced by Taiwan Biotech Organization networks. Packaging and testing enterprises such as King Yuan Electronics and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering operate in proximity, while materials suppliers like GlobalWafers and equipment vendors including Applied Materials and ASML serve fabs. Logistics and supply-chain firms include operators linked to the Port of Kaohsiung and third-party providers such as DHL and Evergreen Marine.

Research and Development Facilities

R&D nodes span corporate research centers, university labs, and public institutes. Notable presences include laboratories affiliated with National Cheng Kung University, National Sun Yat-sen University, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, and units of Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute. Centers focus on microelectronics, photonics, nanofabrication, and biotechnology, with specialized facilities such as cleanrooms, electron microscopy suites, and lithography lines influenced by vendors like ASML and Applied Materials. Collaborative projects have linked to international programs with partners such as University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Fraunhofer Society. Incubators and accelerators collaborate with organizations such as Small and Medium Enterprise Administration (MOEA) and private venture groups like CDIB Capital.

Infrastructure and Transportation

Infrastructure serving the park includes access to Taiwan High Speed Rail stations in Tainan Station and freight links to the Port of Kaohsiung and Kaohsiung Port Container Terminal. Road connectivity is provided by National Freeway 1 (Taiwan), National Freeway 3 (Taiwan), and major provincial highways, while air cargo is routed via Kaohsiung International Airport. Utility provisioning involves coordination with Taiwan Power Company for electricity, Taiwan Water Corporation for industrial water, and telecommunication services from providers such as Chunghwa Telecom and FarEasTone. Environmental infrastructure includes waste-water treatment facilities managed in cooperation with municipal sanitation bureaus and standards set by the Environmental Protection Administration (Taiwan).

Economic Impact and Future Development

The park has driven regional employment, export growth, and clustering effects that reinforce Taiwan’s global role in semiconductor supply chains alongside Hsinchu Science Park and international partners like TSMC clients such as Apple Inc. and NVIDIA. Economic spillovers involve local suppliers, logistics firms, and academic talent pipelines from institutions like National Cheng Kung University. Future development plans emphasize advanced-node fabs, packaging-integration technologies, and biotechnology hubs, coordinated with national strategies of the National Development Council (Taiwan) and investment promotion by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan). International engagement continues through memoranda with firms such as Micron Technology, alliances with equipment makers like ASML, and participation in global trade forums including events organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.

Category:Science parks in Taiwan Category:Economy of Kaohsiung Category:Tainan County