Taipei: Wistron Corp., a key player in the artificial intelligence server industry in Taiwan, has commenced construction on a research and development building in Taipei's Neihu District, with the project targeted for completion by 2028. Wistron's President and CEO, Jeff Lin, highlighted that the new R and D facility is strategically located a mere kilometer from the company's forthcoming headquarters, positioning it near the future base of Wistron's cloud services subsidiary, Wiwynn Corp.
According to Focus Taiwan, the R and D building is part of Wistron's broader vision to establish an AI corridor in Neihu. The building is touted as an advanced green and AI-driven smart structure, with a total floor area of 9,425 pings, equivalent to about 31,157 square meters. It will feature eight floors above ground and four underground levels. Earlier announcements in May 2024 revealed that Wistron secured a 6,408-ping parcel of land through a 60-year lease with the Taipei City government for this project.
Local media reports indicate that Wistron plans to invest approximately NT$2.7 billion in the R and D building. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an expressed his support for the project, noting its alignment with the city's objective to transform Taipei into a smart city by integrating technology parks across several districts, including Neihu, Nangang, Shilin, and Beitou.
Adding to the tech momentum in the area, Nvidia Corp., a U.S.-based AI chip designer, has announced plans to open its Taiwan headquarters in the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park. According to Mayor Chiang, Wistron's new facility is expected to generate 1,500 jobs.
Wistron, with production sites not only in Taiwan but also across the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia, considers Mexico a significant location. Despite the 30 percent "reciprocal" tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Mexican imports starting August 1, Lin stated that the company's clients have not altered their orders. Wistron has developed alternative strategies to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariff policies once the specifics of the import duty on Mexican goods are clarified.
Lin also acknowledged the potential global economic repercussions of the U.S. tariffs but remains optimistic about sustained demand for AI applications, given the current supply-demand gap for AI servers.