The much-anticipated plan for NVIDIA to establish its Taiwan headquarters at the T17 and T18 sites in Taipei’s Neihu District has hit a roadblock. According to a source familiar with the matter, NVIDIA has made it clear that the proposal by Shin Kong Life Insurance — which involves “building first and transferring ownership later” — is completely unacceptable to the company. The insider added that the project has now been entangled in political controversies, turning what was once a landmark investment into a “battle of political rhetoric.”
Reports indicate that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NVIDIA and Xinshou (Shin Kong Life) regarding the Beishike T17 and T18 bases expired on September 30, leaving three possible paths forward:
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A collaborative transfer plan,
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A build-first, move-later plan, and
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A termination and return plan.
However, NVIDIA has firmly rejected the second option, insisting that the “build-first, move-later” approach is not viable.
Industry insiders explained that NVIDIA’s objections stem from two main reasons. First, the company demands strict architectural and construction standards for its headquarters and has already identified its own construction team to ensure quality control. Involving an external developer in the construction phase, as proposed by Shin Kong Life, would risk delays, design inconsistencies, and accountability issues.
Second, the T17 and T18 development has become mired in political disputes, which NVIDIA wishes to avoid entirely. The company’s focus is to complete the headquarters project efficiently, free from political interference that could slow progress or damage its reputation.
The insider added that the project had, in fact, reached its final preparatory phase, and NVIDIA had shown strong determination to establish its Asia-Pacific hub in Taiwan, citing the island’s key role in the global semiconductor ecosystem. However, with ongoing disputes and the MOU’s expiration, the future of NVIDIA’s Taiwan headquarters now remains uncertain.