Three Bidders Apply for AI Computing Center BOO Project; MODA Set to Hold Public Hearing in July

Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has announced progress on the nation’s first AI computing center project under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model. Following a solicitation period that concluded in mid-May, three Taiwanese companies have submitted applications. Among the applicants is Asia Bay Supercomputing, a subsidiary of Foxconn.

This landmark project classifies AI computing centers as critical digital infrastructure. Under the BOO framework, applicants must commit a minimum investment of NT$300 million (excluding land) and utilize their own land or leased facilities. To ensure international competitiveness, the centers must achieve a computing capacity of at least 15 PetaFLOPS under 32-bit floating-point (FP32) conditions, supporting national R&D in precision medicine, smart transportation, and other advanced AI applications.

MODA completed initial qualification screenings in early June. A feasibility study review involving expert scholars is scheduled for late June. This will be followed by a public hearing in July to gather feedback and negotiate government commitments. Once feasibility reports are approved, qualified bidders will be invited to submit formal investment plans for final evaluation. The ministry aims to finalize and sign contracts by the end of 2024.

The policy also encourages providers to allocate a portion of their computing resources for public benefit, such as providing discounted or free access to government agencies, academic institutions, and SMEs. Furthermore, all facilities must comply with the Cyber Security Management Act, incorporating robust disaster recovery and business continuity plans to protect critical national data and infrastructure.