PME et propriété intellectuelle: Cas de Taiwan

3.2 The meso-level (Institutional)

In this category are listed the different agencies available in a given territory. Institutions cover a wide range of services developed by the state, such as the Department of Intellectual Property or all state institutions that help companies to have a protection as effective as possible

3.2.1 Sector Review & Analysis

In Taiwan, the sector of semiconductor devices and the electric solid state devices are the sectors who filed the most patents during 2008^60(*). In fact, Semiconductors are one of key sectors of Taiwan's economic success. Characterized by a strong specialization, the Taiwanese production has succeeded in positioning themselves in areas totally innovative. The Taiwanese have been the first to provide their services under contract in the foundry and are thus distinguished themselves from their competitors. Two groups dominate the Taiwanese foundry, these giants TSMC and UMC, which alone is home to more than 50% of the global market. Manufacturers integrated, vertically focused companies, by definition, tend to favor a sub-contracting the manufacture of integrated circuits, to increase flexibility and reduce costs. Also, this sector has patented more than 1,789 invention certificates in 2008.

Concerning the utility model certificats, there are the electrically-conductive connections that are the most patented with 1,660 Utilities Models. Then there are the electric digital data processing with a number of utility model of 856 in 2008 See Table I: Invention Certificates Issued by International Patent Classification (IPC) in 2008 (TOP 20).

Design is very important for the communication equipment, the wireless remote controls and the radio amplifiers. Since its liberalization in the 1990s, the telecommunications industry in Taiwan has experienced a steady growth rate. The evolution strategy of Taiwanese production network equipment is similar to the one chosen by the computer equipment a few years ago. Taiwan first began to produce equipment with low value added products such as modems conventional mature technologies whose production was gradually relocated to Asian countries with low labor cost. Its industry then evolved into more complex productions. As in most developed markets, the mobile telephony sector is reaching saturation, with a penetration rate approaching 100%. Service providers are experiencing similar problems. They then shifted their activities to the Internet services and mobile phones with integrated PDAs. It's why this sector has patented 480 designs in 2008 See Table II and IIII: Utility Model Certificats Issued by International Patent Classification (IPC) in 2008 (TOP 20) and Design Certificates Issued by International Classification for Industrial Design System (LOC) in 2008 (TOP 20).

Some industries have a tendency to turn to intellectual property rights. This is the case of Hon Hai Precision Industry CO., LTD and of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

Hon Hai Precision Industry may be the biggest electronics company you never heard of. The company, more commonly known by its trade name, Foxconn, is one of the world's largest contract electronics manufacturers. It manufactures computer, consumer electronics, and communications products, including connectors, cable assemblies, enclosures, flat-panel displays, game consoles, motherboards, servers, and TVs. Hon Hai, doing business as Foxconn Technology Group, also provides design engineering and mechanical tooling services. The global company's customers include Apple, Cisco, Dell, Nokia, and Sony. CEO Terry Gou founded Hon Hai in 1974 to make plastic switches for TVs.

ITRI has three mission statements: first, to expedite the development of new industrial technology; two, to aid in the process of upgrading industrial technology techniques; and three, to establish future industrial technology. However, in order to face a new economic era and serving as a nation's premiere technology research institute, ITRI must transform Taiwan's research capability from a «follower» to a «pioneer» in order to provide major advantage and opportunities for domestic industries. As of today more than 60% of the ITRI's 6,000 employees hold either a Master's degree or PhD in their respective field of studies: Communication and Optoelectronics, Precision Machinery and MEMS, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Technology, Sustainable Development, and Nanotechnology. To more information, see Table IV and V: Residents Patent Applications in 2008 (Top 20) and Residents Certificate Issued in 2008 (Top 20)

* ⁶⁰ According to the annual analysis of TIPO.