The process by which a microchip is made is called "wafer fabrication". After IC designers finished the design of an "electronic circuit", the design is sent to a wafer fabrication plant where the "circuit" is manufactured into silicon wafer. Thanks to the progress of technologies, nowadays, one microchip of the size of about 1 square centimeter can have more than 5-10 millions of transistors in it. This number of transistors in one microchip gives you the exciting ability of today's electronic equipment. In a wafer fabrication plant, silicon wafers with a diameter of 200-300 mm are processed with various types of equipment and process steps. Depending on the size of the microchip, one can produce several hundreds to thousands of microchips per wafer. A typical commercial wafer fabrication plant costs about 1-1.5 billion US dollars will handle 30,000-40,000 of 200 mm-wafers/month and generates the sales of several hundred millions US dollars per year. The pay back period is usually 3 to 5 years.
Every year, 20-30 billions of dollars or more are spent for construction of new wafer fabrication plants worldwide. Recently, due to the high initial investment and rapid change in technology, the major electronics product makers try not to build the wafer fabrication plant for their own use, but rather subcontract to the dedicated wafer fabrication manufacturers or the wafer foundries. Wafer foundries usually come from the joint venture of the big electronics makers, investors and the host country. This type of cooperation opens up opportunities for newcomers in the business and provides benefits to all partners including customers, investors and the host country. Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia are very active in promoting the wafer foundry business with this strategy. These countries are relocating the world's wafer fabrication manufacturing center into Asia. It is clear that with its strong manufacturing ability, its capability to supply high quality and competitive engineers and technicians and its strong commitment to the world economy, Asia can be a very competitive area for world's wafer fabrication industry.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of Thailand would like to invite you, the wafer fabrication manufacturers, to invest for your new wafer fabrication plants in Thailand.
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