NVIDIA rumored to build new R&D center in Taiwan, after first AI R&D center is a huge success

NVIDIA opened its first Asia-based AI R&D center in Taiwan two years ago, investing NT$24.3 billion ($715 million USD or so) and employing 400 people there. But now, the company is reportedly considering a second R&D center in Taiwan.

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In a new post by the China Times, the Technology Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said on April 26 that NVIDIA's current research and development (R&D) is "going smoothly" and it will "assist our manufacturers in AI application development". They're reportedly happy with the quality of talent in Taiwan, and are considering setting up a second R&D center in Taiwan.

The first R&D center that NVIDIA built in Taiwan mainly works on AI chip research and development, as well as GPUs. The R&D center also helped build Taiwan's biggest supercomputer -- Taipei-1 -- with the Taiwan government providing a NT$6.7 billion ($205 million USD or so) subsidy for NVIDIA's first R&D center project.

Qiu Qiuhui, the director of technology at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said that NVIDIA's investment plan in Taiwan includes setting up a research and development center, sharing supercomputer resources within the industry, and training new AI talent at the National Taiwan University and Tsinghua University, which has so far benefitted 6,700 people.

NVIDIA is reportedly happy with Taiwan's "human resources quality and cost," reports China Times. Taiwan has advantages when it comes to hardware, infrastructure, and talent. Taiwanese staffers are highly professional and disciplined in their work, and China Times adds that the semiconductor ecosystem "is complete" there, and they're not wrong.