Early Life
Archie Hwang was born in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1952. He graduated from National Chiao Tung University with a Bachelor of Arts/Science degree. His early career focused on the emerging semiconductor industry, a field that would later define his success.
Rise to Success
In 1977, Hwang founded Hermes-Epitek Corp., initially as a distributor of semiconductor equipment. He recognized the growing demand for advanced manufacturing tools in the industry. Through Hermes-Epitek, Hwang supplied equipment to major foundries in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. A key milestone was the sale of his semiconductor equipment supplier to ASML in 2016 for $3.1 billion, a deal that significantly increased his wealth.
Key Business Strategies
Hwang's success is attributed to his foresight in the semiconductor industry. He focused on providing the equipment necessary for advanced microprocessor manufacturing. Hermes-Epitek has focused on optoelectronic equipment, which has allowed the company to stay relevant in the competitive and rapidly changing world of semiconductors.
Philanthropy
In 2024, Hwang generously donated accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) equipment, developed by Heron Neutron Medical Corp., to his alma mater, the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. This donation, valued at NT$1.2 billion, benefits cancer patients.
