Micron to Boost Taiwan Investment, Plans Second R&D Center

Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra visited Taiwan in July, underscoring the company's commitment to expanding its presence in the region. This visit aims to enhance collaboration, particularly in the development of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), a critical component for AI applications. Micron is reportedly considering significant additional investments in Taiwan, including the possibility of establishing a second research and development center alongside its advanced HBM manufacturing processes.

In May 2021, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs launched the Leading Enterprise R&D Expansion Plan (A+ Program), which emphasized the development of advanced DRAM and HBM technologies. As part of this initiative, Micron established its first R&D center in Taiwan, supported by a NT$4.7 billion subsidy. With competitors like Samsung and SK Hynix accelerating their technological advancements, industry experts suggest that Micron may propose a second R&D center as its current plan concludes next year, further reinforcing its investment in Taiwan.

Micron's first R&D center, established in 2021, positioned Taiwan as a key hub for advanced production, with facilities located in Taichung and Taoyuan. This move follows similar investments by major semiconductor companies like AMD, NVIDIA, and Infineon, all of which have established R&D centers in Taiwan.

Taiwanese economic authorities have confirmed that Micron plans to deepen its investment in Taiwan, particularly in HBM production. Taiwan remains a strategic production base for Micron, enabling the company to maintain close relationships with key clients like TSMC.

Industry insiders report that Micron is actively advancing its HBM technology and high-speed computing capabilities. As competitors SK Hynix and Samsung collaborate with their supply chains to meet the increasing demand for customized HBM solutions, Micron is expected to increase its investment in Taiwan. However, any official announcement will depend on approval from Micron's board of directors.