從樟腦產業到晶圓代工_新竹的價值傳承 From the Camphor Industry to Semiconductor Foundries: The Value Legacy of Hsinchu

 Today, under clear skies, I hiked around Hengshan Village, savoring the serene beauty of a late autumn countryside in northern Taiwan. Passing the giant camphor tree behind the Land God Temple(土地公), I couldn’t help but feel that this is more than just a picturesque village—it is a site of world-class industrial history.

In the 1820s, Taiwan's camphor industry flourished in Hsinchu and Miaoli, becoming a key player in the global supply chain. Camphor, extracted from native camphor trees, was essential for producing celluloid plastics, smokeless gunpowder, and pharmaceuticals. At its peak, Taiwan supplied over 70% of the world’s camphor, driving industrialization and global trade.

Today, the advanced semiconductor industry in Hsinchu and Miaoli forms the backbone of cutting-edge technologies in AI, automation, and IoT. Anchored by the Hsinchu Science Park—Taiwan’s "Silicon Valley"—this region is home to a comprehensive high-tech ecosystem. Companies such as TSMC lead the way in wafer manufacturing, but they are supported by an intricate supply chain of design firms, equipment manufacturers, and material providers. Together, these industries power global technological progress, with next-generation chips under 7nm accounting for the majority of the industry's output in 2024, showcasing the collective innovation driving the digital era.

From the camphor trade that fueled the industrial revolution to semiconductors that drive the digital era, this region has been at the heart of global industrial and technological progress, shaping history and defining the future.

今天天氣晴朗，我在橫山村漫步，感受北台灣暮秋鄉村的靜謐之美。路過土地公廟後的大樟樹時，我不禁想到，這不僅僅是一個美麗的村莊，更是一個承載世界級產業歷史的地方。
1820年代，台灣的樟腦產業在新竹、苗栗地區蓬勃發展，成為全球供應鏈中的重要角色。從本地樟樹中提煉出的樟腦是製造塑膠、無煙火藥及藥品的關鍵材料。在其巔峰時期，台灣供應了全球70%以上的樟腦，推動了工業革命和國際貿易的發展。
如今，新竹與苗栗的先進半導體產業已成為AI、自動化及物聯網等尖端科技的基石。以新竹科學園區為核心，這片區域孕育出完整的高科技生態系，不僅有像台積電這樣的晶圓製造龍頭，還有支撐整個產業鏈的設計公司、設備製造商及材料供應商。2024年，7奈米以下的下一代晶片已成為產業核心，彰顯這片土地集體創新的力量。
從推動工業革命的樟腦產業，到驅動數位時代的半導體，新竹與苗栗一直站在全球產業與科技進步的最前沿，塑造歷史，定義未來。

Saanen and Novartis visit 小羊村與諾華之旅

 

第一次造訪Saanen是在1999年， 是因為參加Novartis 的內部活動。 村人一百多年前的遠見，立法保留瑞士山屋的建築形式，如今因為其獨特的傳統景觀與優良的設施，讓小村成為度假與會議的首選。小羊村的故事激勵了我成立橫山論壇，來宣揚以環境，文化，永續為核心的城鄉發展理念。
My first visit to Saanen was in 1999, when I attended an internal event with Novartis. Over a hundred years ago, the village residents had the foresight to legislate the preservation of traditional Swiss chalet architecture. Today, with its unique traditional landscape and excellent facilities, this small village has become a top choice for vacations and conferences. The story of this "小羊村(Saanen)" inspired me to establish the Hengshan Forum, promoting a vision for urban and rural development centered on environmental, cultural, and sustainable principles.

 

很高興這次能再次去瑞士造訪這印象深刻的小羊村(Saanen)。 同時也順道巴塞爾拜訪前公司諾華，其現任公關主管Mr. Satoshi Jean-Paul Sugimoto 是曾經一起創造Novartis BioCamp 傳奇的老戰友，他先帶我在Novartis Campus巡禮再請我午餐續舊 ，接著參觀高科技的展示館: Novartis Pavillon。  

I’m delighted to visit Switzerland again and return to this memorable. During this trip, I’ll also stop by Basel to visit my former company, Novartis. The current, Mr. Satoshi Jean-Paul Sugimoto, is an old comrade with whom I once helped create the legendary Novartis BioCamp. He will give me a tour of the Novartis Campus, host me for lunch, and then show me around the high-tech exhibition center: the Novartis Pavilion.

I was very pleased to revisit Switzerland this time and return to the impressive  小羊村(Saanen) . I also took the opportunity to visit my former company, Novartis, in Basel. The current  Director External Communications Switzerland, Mr. Satoshi Jean-Paul Sugimoto, is an old comrade with whom I once helped create the legendary Novartis BioCamp. He guided me on a tour of the Novartis Campus, hosted me for lunch to catch up, and then took me to the high-tech exhibition center: the Novartis Pavilion.

以下是Satoshi 在領英的貼文
Below is Satoshi’s LinkedIn post:

Today, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with an old friend from Taiwan at the Novartis Campus in Basel: Don Chen. He is the visionary behind the Novartis BioCamp event series, a three-day seminar concept bringing together outstanding university students in science, business, and technical fields with distinguished experts and top managers.
Throughout the years that we've organized these events, the Novartis BioCamps have offered hundreds of talented students worldwide invaluable insights into the life sciences and healthcare industries.
It's inspiring to see that many former BioCamp participants have gone on to achieve remarkable careers in their fields.

農者立國之大本_雲林莿桐見聞

 

從騎單車談專業精神

 

從人文風土價值談人力資源的關鍵時刻