 (Nikkei BP Group)
 (No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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Sharp Seeks TFT-LCD Partnership in Taiwan
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August 11, 1998 (TAIPEI) -- Sharp Corp., the leading liquid-crystal display
maker in the world, is seeking technical partnerships in Taiwan.
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Its move comes amid a trend in which more and more Japanese makers are
transferring thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT-LCD) technology
to the island.
Industry sources said this likely means a seventh LCD maker is on the
horizon in Taiwan.
Four of Taiwan's existing six TFT-LCD makers have formed technical alliances
with Japanese companies.
Chi Mei Opto Electronics Corp. said it would not accept a technical transfer,
while Prime View International Co., Ltd. has not yet found a suitable
technical partner.
Chung Hwa Picture Tubes Ltd. accepted a technical transfer from Mitsubishi
Electric Corp., while Hann Star Display Corp. and Unipac Opto Electronics
Corp. received technical assistance from Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita
Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., respectively.
Results of a recent survey from Taiwan's Electro-Optical Association
show that developments in TFT-LCD technology by Korean manufacturers
have broken Japan's monopoly status, encouraging domestic companies
to alter their operational strategy.
Japanese efforts to seek technical cooperation in Taiwan also aim at
diversifying risk, as the construction of a TFT-LCD factory costs about
NT$20 billion (US$578 million).
(Commercial Times, Taiwan)
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