单选题
Microchip Research Center Created
A research center has been
1
in this Far Eastern country to develop advanced microchip production technology. The center, which will start out with about US $14 million, will help the country develop its chip industry without always depending on imported technology.
The center will make use of its research skills and
2
to develop new technology for
3
chip plants. The advent of the center will possibly free the country from the
4
that it is always buying almost-outdated technologies from other countries, said the country"s flagship chipmaker.
5
, chip plants in this country are in a passive situation because many foreign governments don"! allow them to
6
the most advanced technologies, fearing they will be used for
7
purposes. Moreover, the high licensing fees they have to pay to technology providers are also an important
8
for their decision of self-reliance.
As mainstream chip production technology
9
from one generation to the next every three to five years, plants with new technology can make more powerful chips at lower costs, while plants with
10
equipment, which often cost billions of dollars to build, will be
11
by the maker.
More than 10 chip plants are being built, each costing millions of US dollars. The majority of that money goes to overseas equipment
12
and technology owners—mainly
13
Japan and Singapore.
Should the new center play a major role m improving the situation in the industry, the country admits the US $14 million investment is still rather small. This country is developing
14
technologies. Most of the investment will be spent on setting
15
with technology and intellectual property owners.