Business Models of IC Design Service Industry in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Kuo, Chiu-ling, 郭秋鈴
• Other Authors: Yu, Hsiao-Cheng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/14896975935393909422

碩士 === 國立交通大學 === 管理學院碩士在職專班科技管理組 === 98 === As the semiconductor industry moved to even more advanced process technologies, the design reuse methodology is fundamental to SoC design and it fuels the main trends in the chip industry — device integration. This drives growth in IP and design service model emerged. With increasing chip cost and time-to-market being significant concerns for semiconductor companies, design services providers play an increasingly important role in the semiconductor value chain to help alleviate pain points in these areas. Fifteen years after its emergence in early 90’s, Taiwanese IC design service industry has expanded significantly in industry revenue with a current number of more than 20 in Taiwan. We found that company revenue gap is getting bigger and bigger, and IC design service providers are in the crux to find their way out. With the process technology approaching nanometer scale, it requires much higher precision and expertise in the wafer manufacturing process. It is therefore critical for IC design service providers to act as the role of “industry integrator”--to deliver value through integrating different stages of supply chain, including IPs, backend, wafer manufacturing, assembly and test together to fulfill customers’ needs. That trend signals closer collaboration between foundries and design service providers. As a result, the allied foundry partner’s process technology, market share and company strategies impact a lot to IC design service providers. This thesis analyzed IC design service business model in Taiwan and its core competence in nowadays competitive industry landscape. In addition, this study also identified future trends and opportunities of IC design service industry facing ahead.