TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Sales from Taiwan’s three biggest science parks are estimated to have totaled NT$3.5 trillion (US$126.56 billion) in 2021.

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) released a report on Sunday (Jan. 9) that said in the first 10 months of 2021, sales of semiconductors, optoelectronics, and computers and computer accessories made up the most revenue at the Hsinchu Science Park, the Central Taiwan Science Park in Taichung, and the Southern Taiwan Science Park in Tainan, according to CNA.

In the first three quarters of 2021, total semiconductor revenue hit NT$2.18 trillion, a 23.58% increase compared to the same period in 2020. The figure represents around 72% of the total revenue of the three science parks last year.

Chip demand was driven by the growing need for advanced silicon used in 5G and artificial intelligence of things, the MOST said.

Optoelectronics sales from January to October 2021 increased by 29.09% from a year earlier to hit NT$495.5 billion. Meanwhile, sales of computer and computer accessories during the same period reached NT$132.4 billion, an increase of 13.53% year-on-year.

The MOST said that as long as the manufacturing sector is not too affected by the ongoing pandemic this year, science park revenue should continue to trend upward.