China Gets Semi IP Trading Center
Staff Reporter -- EDN, June 20, 2006
Collaborative plans for the construction of a new semiconductor intellectual property (SIP) trading center in greater China have been announced by four groups in the industry.
The project was developed by the Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA), China Beijing Semiconductor Industry Association (CBSIA), Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp. (HKSTP) and Chinese American Semiconductor Professional Association (CASPA) in what the companies announced today as a collaborative memorandum of understanding (MOU). The center will be named Greater China Semiconductor Intellectual Property Trading Center (GSCIPTC).
Each of the four participants in the deal intends to cooperate in the facilitation and promotion of proper reuse of SIP worldwide, meeting internationally recognized standards and business practices, the companies said in a statement.
The announcement is the latest evidence of a slowly growing trend: China's increasingly cooperative participation in the industry. Earlier this month, China's Semiconductor Industry Association (CSIA) applied for membership in the World Semiconductor Council (WSC).
CBSIA represents the Beijing semiconductor professional community; HKSTP represents the Hong Kong semiconductor professional community; CASPA represents the overseas Chinese semiconductor professional community; and FSA represents the global semiconductor business community.
"This MOU is the initial step to cooperation among semiconductor professionals in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas to standardize worldwide SIP trading practices," Jeremy Wang, FSA's Asia-Pacific executive director, said in the statement. "We believe this project will culminate in SIP development in Asia and provide more robust IP opportunities for the global semiconductor industry. The collaboration will ensure further adoption of a significant body of work FSA has developed which will be incorporated into the GCSIPTC framework for global compatibility."
The parties claimed that this MOU is the foremost effort in establishing a standardized SIP trading platform in Greater China, starting with an SIP servicing platform. GCSIPTC seeks to "foster a healthy and globalized environment" for SIP development.
"With advancements in integrated circuit design technology, SIP trading could bring new and potentially lucrative business opportunities to Greater China and the semiconductor industry worldwide," Al Kwok, CASPA PRD chapter president, added in the statement.
