Tiwan-based Powerchip announced that the company has kicked off the construction of its first LED (Light-Emitting Diode) plant in the Southern Taiwan Science Park, with a projected investment of NT$1.6 billion (US$ 49.5 million; US$1 = NT$32.3).

Slated for completion in six months from the present, Powerchip's new plant will be dedicated to the development and manufacturing of LED epiwafers and chips, Taiwan's Economic Daily News reported. The company's advanced LED backlight technology can be applied to mobile phone panels, as well as large-sized LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels.

According to the same report, Powerchip also plans to cooperate with a Japanese company holding proprietary patents on LED technologies.