Taipei, Oct.11, 2012 (CENS)--Taiwan's 1,004 listed manufacturers spent some NT$148.9 billion (US$4.96 billion) in R&D in the first half, up 0.7% year on year (YoY), with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) leading with NT$18.4 billion (US$613.33 million), up 20.1% YoY for the third double-digit growth annually, followed by HTC Corp. with NT$7.7 billion (US$256.67 million), according to a survey by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).
Statistics from the MOEA show governmental and private manufacturers have increased R&D investments in recent years, with the former growing from NT$116.3 billion (US$3.88 billion) in 2006 to NT$133.8 billion (US$4.46 billion) in 2010; while private manufacturers increasing from NT$190.7 billion (US$6.36 billion) in 2006 to NT$261.2 billion (US$8.71 billion) in 2010, then rising further to NT$302.1 billion (US$10.07 billion) in 2011.
The semiconductor industry including TSMC, ASE Group, and Siliconware Precision Industries Co. contributed 38.1% of Taiwan's R&D expenditures in the first half with NT$56.7 billion (US$1.89 billion). The computers & accessories sector came second with NT$30.7 billion (US$1.02 billion), while optoelectronic sector ranked third with NT$19.8 billion (US$660 million).
Listed manufacturers' R&D expenditures accounted for 1.95% of total revenues in the first half, for the third annual growth, with semiconductor industry's growth being 8.22%.
Te top-10 manufacturers with the highest R&D investments are mainly in the IT sector. TSMC topped rivals with NT$18.4 billion (US$613.33 million) to command 8% of its overall revenues, followed by HTC's NT$7.7 billion (US$256.67 million), 5% of total revenues, MediaTek Inc. with NT$5.6 billion (US$186.67 million), accounting for 21.8% of revenues.
Wistron Corp. invested NT$5.5 billion (US$183.33 million) in R&D, the fourth highest among all, or 1.8% of its revenues, followed by Hon Hai Precision Ind. with NT$4.9 billion (US$163.33 million), 0.3% of total revenues.
(by Andrew Wang)
