13.02.2025
After several months of delays, Taiwan is officially launching its third research and development centre for semiconductor chips in Czechia. According to E15, the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT) has signed a final agreement with the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI), part of NARLabs, under Taiwan’s Ministry of Science. The new Taiwan Chip Academy in Prague will complement existing centres in Brno and at Charles University.
The establishment of these semiconductor centres results from political efforts led by Czech officials, including Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová and Senate Vice President Miloš Vystrčil. Taiwan, a global leader in advanced chip manufacturing, is strengthening its ties with Czechia at a time when TSMC is building a factory in nearby Dresden. Taiwan sees Czechia as a potential research, training, and supply chain partner.
Taiwan first established the Supply Chain Resilience Center at Charles University, which focuses on the geopolitics and security of supply chains, particularly given Taiwan’s concerns regarding China. Last autumn, Brno saw the launch of the Advanced Chip Design and Research Center (ACDRC), a joint initiative involving Taiwan, Brno University of Technology (VUT), ČVUT, and Masaryk University. This centre fosters research collaboration with Taiwanese firms, which are already setting up offices in Brno.
The third centre is expected to open next month, although it was initially planned for last fall. Changes in Taiwan’s government led to delays and modifications to the original plan, which had aimed to fund a training centre for chip professionals at ČVUT. Instead, the new focus will be on joint research between Taiwanese and Czech universities. "The parties have agreed to collaborate in chip design and research," the agreement states.
A Strong Partnership in Semiconductor Research
Radek Holý, Vice-Rector of ČVUT responsible for semiconductor cooperation with Taiwan, described the outcome as highly positive. "We are already receiving various offers for exchange programs for students and staff," he told E15. ČVUT will allocate space for the centre within its Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics (CIIRC) and will also host summer semiconductor courses with visiting Taiwanese experts.
ČVUT has been strengthening ties with Taiwan for some time. In late January, Professor Poki Chen from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology received an honorary doctorate from ČVUT and currently teaches courses in integrated circuits in Prague. The universities will focus on joint research in analogue and digital chip design, sensors, semiconductor detectors, cybersecurity, AI applications in chips, and chip design software tools—all cutting-edge technologies that Czechia aims to develop.
In 2024, Czechia approved its National Semiconductor Strategy, with the first steps now being implemented. The Ministry of Education is preparing a contract-based funding program for universities to train specialists in critical fields, starting with semiconductors. VUT in Brno has announced a new modern chip and semiconductor program, expected to graduate up to 100 students per year.
Taiwan is also exploring Czechia for additional investments. The Taiwanese company CTi Cable will launch high-speed data cable production in the P3 industrial park in Klecany, manufacturing HDMI, USB, Ethernet, and DisplayPort cables. The investment is worth 120 million CZK, with CTi aiming to use Czechia as a base for European expansion.
"Czechia's central location in Europe provides a strategic advantage for product distribution across the continent. Additionally, the country has a strong tradition and recognized expertise in manufacturing and technological innovation," said Sunny Lin, Vice President of CTi Cable.
