Nvidia finalizes landmark Taipei headquarters deal, pledges $12.2B royalty and $40B total investment

Nvidia and the Taipei City Government have signed an agreement that will anchor the chip giant’s first overseas headquarters in Taipei’s Beitou-Shilin Technology Park.

A milestone in global tech investment

Taipei and Nvidia have officially concluded negotiations and signed a land rights agreement for the company’s first overseas headquarters, ending months of deliberations over land use and contractual terms.

The contract, formalized and officially disclosed by Taipei Mayor Wayne Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) on Feb. 11, cements Nvidia’s presence in Taiwan as a strategic hub for AI and advanced computing technologies.

Under the terms, Taipei has granted Nvidia surface rights to plots T17 and T18 within the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park for an initial 50 years with an optional 20-year extension. The royalty payment amounts to approximately NT$12.2 billion (about US$390 million).

Mayor Chiang said Nvidia’s investment and operations plan projects roughly NT$40 billion (about US$1.27 billion) in spending to build the company’s first overseas headquarters.

Economic and employment impacts

Mayor Chiang, representing the city government at the signing ceremony, highlighted the investment’s economic significance for Taipei and beyond. Nvidia’s planned “Nvidia Constellation” — the name of the headquarters in Taipei — is poised to catalyze urban economic activity and generate more than 10,000 jobs over the construction and operational phases, he said.

Nvidia’s presence is also anticipated to bolster Taipei’s stature as an Asia-Pacific hub for technology. The company’s investment, estimated at NT$40 billion for the construction alone, is expected to create significant spillover effects expected across the AI supply chain, talent development, and ancillary services.

Samuel Straw, head of research at the Taipei-based NGO Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association, told TCN that deeper integration with leading global technology firms further elevates Taiwan’s importance to the world, reinforcing what is often described as the island’s “silicon shield.”

At the same time, he argued, such economic integration also embeds Taiwan even more deeply within global technology interdependencies—an arrangement that enhances its leverage while simultaneously exposing it to vulnerabilities and risks.

Meandering negotiation journey: From tension to agreement

The path to this agreement was not straightforward. Earlier disputes over land rights with Shin Kong Life Insurance, which held prior development rights to the Beitou plots, delayed progress.

After lengthy negotiations and agreed termination terms with Shin Kong Life, the city was able to clear the way for Nvidia’s direct engagement.

Mayor Chiang said the agreement underscored Taipei’s role as “Nvidia’s home,” adding that construction could begin as early as June, pending the completion of remaining administrative procedures.

He expressed hope that the project would break ground within the year and said the deal demonstrated Taipei’s capacity to host large-scale, high-end technology investment, positioning the city as a central node in the development of the AI industry.

Asked whether Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony in June — as Huang is expected to be in Taiwan for Computex around that time — Chiang said he would continue contacting Nvidia via email.

Deputy Mayor Hammer Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) wrote in a Feb 11. Facebook post after the announcement that he was honored to be a part of Nvidia’s expansion and investment in Taiwan.

He said that he was grateful for Chiang’s trust and delegation throughout the process and thanked the city government team, the central government, the Taipei City Council, and Shin Kong Life for making this happen.

While discussions about Nvidia’s potential second HQ in Taiwan remain speculative, city officials including Mayor Chiang say they welcome any future expansion.