Qualcomm MEMS Technologies announced this week the culmination of months of collaboration with Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs to expand the manufacturing capacity of its MEMS based displays in Taiwan with the construction of a new fabrication facility in Longtan. The initial phase of the announced facility is expected to result in up to $975 million of investment by Qualcomm, and the facility is expected to be operational in 2012.
This investment and facility demonstrates the continued maturation of the flat panel display industry in Taiwan. As a major hub for manufacturing electronic components for the global technology industry, Taiwan is at the leading edge of the growing communications technology market.
"The Ministry of Economic Affairs has played a key role in Qualcomm growing its presence in Taiwan," said Jim Cathey, vice president of business development, Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Inc. "Our relationship with Taiwanese government agencies on all levels has resulted in valuable and important milestones being met. We wish to express our gratitude to MOEA Minister Dr. Shih Yen Shiang and his very capable and dedicated team for their strong support of Qualcomm and for their efforts to make Taiwan an attractive investment destination."
"We are happy to be a part of Qualcomm's growing business activities in Taiwan and look forward to further strengthening the display technology industry in the coming years," said Dr. Shih Yen Shiang, MOEA minister.
The new facility will further support Qualcomm's commercialization of small-to medium-sized displays. The new facility will be located in the Longtan base of the Hsinchu Science Park.
Qualcomm MEMS Technologies has developed the industry's first MEMS based display for mobile devices –- a technology that, according to the company, offers low power consumption and superb viewing quality in a wide range of environmental conditions, including bright sunlight. The display works by reflecting light using interfoermetric modulation (IMOD) so that specific wavelengths interfere with each other to create color. The process that makes butterfly's wings shimmer is the same principle applied in Qualcomm's MEMS based displays. Accordinly to the company, Qualcomm MEMS Technologies supports Qualcomm's overall strategy of increasing the capabilities of mobile devices while minimizing power consumption.
Qualcomm MEMS Technologies is headquartered in San Diego, Calif., with offices in San Jose, Calif., Taoyuan, Taiwan and Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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