Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is the largest research and development institute in Taiwan. Over the past three decades, it has helped set up innovative science and technology industries, assisting traditional industries to upgrade, providing training for industrial technology talents, building up Taiwan’s national competitiveness, and blazing trails for many advanced and critical industries along Taiwan’s journey of industrial development. ITRI has been the prime enabler of Taiwan’s economic miracle, and the history of ITRI is a history of Taiwan’s science and technology industries.
1973 Founding of ITRI
ITRI was established through a merger of the three research organizations: the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) the Union Industrial Research Laboratories, Mining Research & Service Organization, and the Metal Industrial Research Institute -- to form a private corporate entity.
1976 Successful Transfer of IC Manufacturing Processes to Taiwan
ITRI signed a "CMOS IC Technology Transfer Licensing Agreement" with RCA in 1976. ITRI engineers were dispatched to the U.S. to accept training under the agreement. These engineers successfully brought semiconductor manufacturing process technology back to Taiwan and created the foundation of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry – a star industry of Taiwan.
1977 Establishment of the First IC Demonstration Foundry in Taiwan as the foundation of the Nation’s Semiconductor Industry
ITRI set up the first IC demonstration foundry in Taiwan and started the first IC production line. The foundry, which was inaugurated by the late Premier Sun Yun-suan, served as a model of the nation’s semiconductor industry.
1980 Spinoff of UMC
United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) was the first spinoff through a technology transfer from a research organization in Taiwan. The deal jump-started UMC to become the first 4-inch silicon wafer maker in Taiwan. This project set a new paradigm in Taiwan’s turn-key technology transfer deals.
1983 Successful Development of IBM-compatible PC Leading to the Prospering of the IT Industry
ITRI successfully developed IBM PC/XT-compatible PCs, and transferred the knowhow to five local companies including Acer Inc. This endeavor transformed Taiwan into a PC design and manufacturing kingdom, and brought about the development of Taiwan’s well-rounded IT industry based on its PC prowess.
1985 Carbon Fiber Bicycle Development with Giant
ITRI developed technology of carbon fiber composite materials, and transferred production technologies of bicycle, golf ball and tennis racket to relative private manufacturers. With ITRI collaborative efforts, Giant developed a carbon fiber bicycle and thereby entered the high-end bicycle market. At present, Giant is the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer and plays a decisive role in the bicycle market.
1986 R&D of Photoresistant Dry Film
In 1986, ITRI transferred dry film photoresist technology to Eternal Chemical Co. and Great Eastern Resins Industrial Co. (GRECO) and assisted these two companies in plant construction and production investment. Subsequently, Eternal achieved a global market share of over 40% with an annual output of more than one billion square feet and annual revenue of over NT$3 billion.
1987 Spinoff of TSMC, the World's Largest OEM IC Foundry
Established in 1987, NML was engaged in setting up Taiwan’s highest measurement standards in 15 categories. NML provided measuring instrument calibration and technical consulting services to domestic calibration laboratories, performing nearly 4,600 calibration services a year. Moreover, NML conducted intercomparsions with other international organization of standards in order to assure that domestic measurement standards conform to world standards.
1987 Establishment of National Measurement Laboratory (NML)
Established in 1987, NML was engaged in setting up Taiwan’s highest measurement standards in 15 categories. NML provided measuring instrument calibration and technical consulting services to domestic calibration laboratories, performing nearly 4,600 calibration services a year. Moreover, NML conducted intercomparsions with other international organization of standards in order to assure that domestic measurement standards conform to world standards.
1989 Spinoff of Taiwan Mask Corp.
ITRI spun off Taiwan Mask Corp. in 1989 as the first domestic manufacturer of masks to be used by Taiwan's local silicon wafer foundries for the production of ICs. The move reduced production costs and sped up production time, and thus strengthened the competitiveness of Taiwan's IC industry.