Guatemalan Students Enrolled in Chips Initiative
Getting a Foot in the Semiconductor Game: Taiwan and Guatemala's Tech Tie-Up
By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA
Showcasing an ambitious plan to dip its toes in the tech world, Guatemala is partnering with Taiwan to develop engineering talent used in the semiconductor industry.
Taking a leap towards strengthening economic relations in technology, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo has shown keen interest. Ambassador to Guatemala Chang Chun-fei (張俊菲), speaking in Guatemala City on Wednesday, confirmed this sentiment.
Starting next week, 28 top Guatemalan students and researchers embark on a three-week intensive training session at Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區) and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University's Innovation Incubation Center in Taipei.
The trainees will tour the manufacturing facilities of Taiwan Printed Circuit Association members. According to Chang, these trainees will later act as seedling instructors in a Guatemala-run program educating local talents to build a domestic chipmaking industry.
This joint venture supports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' mission to stimulate the economies of diplomatic allies by utilizing Taiwan's technological advantages.
In execution of its nationwide strategy to lure foreign investors in key industries and boost its global competitiveness, the Arevalo administration is eager to join the international semiconductor manufacturing sector—a move that promises innovation, technology, and jobs.
Guatemala expresses its gratitude to Taiwan for imparting technology and experience needed to integrate into the global value chain.
The exchange program signifies Taiwan's pivotal role as a strategic partner to Guatemala in its journey to construct a modern economy. Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martinez acknowledged this crucial role.
Carlos Esquit, head of the electronic engineering department at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, believes the program will enable participants to gain a sense for the chipmaking industry. He envisions the collaboration fostering a model for bilateral economic cooperation.
In the realm of tech workforce development, Taiwan offers the TEEP Scholarship Programs at institutions like Chang Gung University, providing research internships, industry exposure, and job placement opportunities in IC design, manufacturing, and AI applications. Semiconductor IC Camps feature hybrid training, hands-on practice, and competitions to prepare students for industry roles.
While no explicit Taiwan-Guatemala partnership details emerge from the current findings, Taiwan’s existing frameworks could serve as models for future collaborations in semiconductor workforce development. For specific bilateral agreements, one should reach out to Taiwan’s Ministry of Education or Guatemalan trade/education agencies.
- Guatemalan students and researchers, leveraging the technology education and self-development opportunities offered by Taiwan, will begin a three-week training session next week at Hsinchu Science Park and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University's Innovation Incubation Center in Taipei.
- Upon completion of the training, these Guatemalan trainees will return to their home country to act as seedling instructors in a Guatemala-run program, with the aim of building a domestic chipmaking industry, a move that aligns with the Arevalo administration's strategic objective to join the international semiconductor manufacturing sector.
- The Guatemalan Minister of Education, recognizing Taiwan's pivotal role in technology transfer and knowledge sharing, could potentially look to Taiwan's existing frameworks, such as the TEEP Scholarship Programs at institutions like Chang Gung University, to serve as models for future bilateral collaborations in semiconductor workforce development.
