Merck to invest 17 billion in Taiwan to scale up new production lines and R&D capacity of its electronic technology business sector

　Merck Performance Materials (Merck), a leading player in global science and technology, will invest a total of about TWD17 billion in Taiwan within next 5 to 7 years according to its 14 December 2021 press release.  The capital fund which is the largest of Merck’s investments in Taiwan will be used to scale up the new production lines and R&D capacity of its electronic technology business sector with focus on semi-conductor performance materials.

　This 5-year investment is part of Merck’s recently announced global growth initiative to put in a total of more than 100 billion TWD (3 billion EURO) worldwide in the R&D of foresight materials resolutions and relevant capital spending to drive and accelerate future growth of the electronic technology market.

　Execution of this investment in Taiwan will be phased beginning with the building of Merck’s first-ever Mega Site in the Kaohsiung Area of the Southern Taiwan Science Park in 2022.  The Mega Site will be a brand new 15-hectre manufacturing center to fabricate semi-conductor materials according to the different stages of the product.  The Mega Site will cover semi-conductor solutions in full range providing core materials for semi-conductor advance processing, including thin film materials, special gas, graphical and planarized materials. 

　Merck’s current manufacturing plant in Kaohsiung (SAFC HITECH TAIWAN CO., LTD) will at the same time ramp up the production and R&D capacities of its electronic materials supply system and services as well as its production line of foresight system products for the storage and distribution of special gas and chemical materials.  Construction of the manufacturing plant will commence in December 2021.  The plant is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2022 to answer demand calls from customers in Taiwan and all over Asia.

　In the meantime, Merck is developing a project to integrate and upgrade its semi-conductor R&D capacity and core capability in the Hsinchu area.  An integrated R&D center with the capacity, capability and professionalism spanning full semiconductor process will be set up to provide customers with faster and more efficient services.  The initial operation of the integrated R&D center will be the expanding of the CMP technology R&D and application laboratory by the end of 2021.  For display materials solution, another focal point of the project, Merck will continue to invest in non-traditional display technology, expand the output capacity of display graphical materials and strengthen its display materials capacity and capability in Taiwan.  (Released 2021.12.14)