Taiwan seventh in appraised number of software makers

The CMMI appraisal program has helped enhance Taiwan’s international competitiveness, with the production value of Taiwan’s IT service industry expected to reach NT$300 billion for 2008, according to a Cabinet press release, citing remarks made by Minister without Portfolio Lin Ferng-ching during a meeting of the National Informational and Communications Initiative Committee.

Lin noted that CMMI has become an internationally-recognized benchmark to appraise the progress of software development and the quality of project management.

The number of countries promoting CMMI appraisal has increased by 21 over the past three years to 57 worldwide.

Of the 74 Taiwan manufacturers that have earned CMMI appraisals, 52 have been appraised at maturity level 2, meaning “repeatable, “ 19 have reached maturity level 3, representing “defined, “ and three have attained maturity level 5, meaning “optimizing, “ Lin pointed out.

Attracted by the growing number of CMMI-appraised companies in Taiwan, Japanese manufacturers have discussed cooperation ventures with local software suppliers such as Syscom Group and MiTAC Inc., potentially boosting the country’s software exports.

On the progress of the Cabinet’sefforts to promote the development of Taiwan’s free software industry, Lin said there are now 105 free software developers in the country.

The value of free software production and related services has increased from NT$620 million in 2002 to NT$10.63 billion in 2007, and that of related hardware has expanded from NT$7.37 billion in 2002 to NT$126.25 billion in 2007, Lin added.

He said the government will spend NT$760 million between 2008 and 2011 to further promote the use of free software.

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