CSA Catapult signs MOU with Taiwanese Research Institute
CSA Catapult and ITRI sign agreement to deepen semiconductor technology collaboration
Last week, the UK Minister for Trade Policy, Greg Hands, led a virtual visit to Taiwan on 21-22 October to further develop the UK-Taiwan trade relationship.
The virtual visit also saw the minister launch the UK-Taiwan International Showcase for Compound Semiconductor Technology with 9 UK businesses pitching to a virtual audience of 200 potential collaborators and investors.
Taiwan is the UK’s key international partner for semiconductor technology collaboration and the UK’s Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult (CSA Catapult) and Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan (ITRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further deepen the exchange.
Hands also said a new initiative between the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council and Taiwan’s Ministry for Science and Technology would launch on 3 November 2020 with a call for research proposals, with initial funding of £500,000.
UK-Taiwan bilateral trade rose to £7.1 billion in 2019, making Taiwan the UK’s 7th largest trading partner in the Asia Pacific region. In 2019, Taiwan invested £64.2m in the UK, making the UK Taiwan’s most popular investment destination in Europe. More than 300 UK firms are present in Taiwan and there are over 180 Taiwanese firms in the UK, with TCY Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd recently investing £6.5 million in its facilities in Yorkshire, UK to bolster its machine sales and after-sales services.
UK trade policy minister, Greg Hands, said: “I was delighted to co-chair for the third time the 23rd annual UK-Taiwan trade talks today. Taiwan offers huge opportunities for UK businesses to offer their products, services and expertise in a number of fields including offshore wind and financial services. This year’s trade talks underlined the growing importance of the UK - Taiwan trade and investment relationship in areas including education, science and innovation.”
Deputy executive chair and chief business officer, Innovate UK, Simon Edmonds said: “We are delighted to see CSA Catapult sign this MOU with ITRI. ITRI is one of the world-leading research institutes in semiconductors and was a case study back in 2010 when Hermann Hauser made his recommendations for technology and innovation centres which became the Catapult Network. It is important for our network to collaborate with the best in the world and we look forward to seeing the exciting collaborations between the Catapult and ITRI and wish them all the best in their partnership.”
CSA Catapult CTO and acting CEO, Martin McHugh said: “CSA Catapult is delighted to partner with ITRI. This MOU signifies a closer working relationship, advancing semiconductor research between two world-leading organisations. Together we look forward to developing the advanced electronic products of the future, while forging long-lasting business relationships.”
