Taiwan National Tsing Hua University has established a new compound semiconductor laboratory for the development of new chip components that will support alternative green energy sources.

Cheng Keh-yung, dean of NTHU's College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, at the inauguration ceremony,said that the lab represents the first project in Taiwan to fully integrate semiconductor component research.

According to Cheng, the lab will cover passive and active component development from the epitaxy process to chip component manufacturing and testing.

The lab, a collaboration between the university's Center For Nanotechnology, Materials Science, and Microsystems and the Institute of Electronics Engineering, is hoping to develop components that will generate green energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Among the components targeted are high-brightness LEDs and high-power, high-voltage transistors, which Cheng described as the keys to developing next-generation lighting systems, electric cars and communications equipment.

In the meanwhile,Cheng also hoped the lab would create an excellent research environment that brings out student's innovative potential.