The slogan "you build and they will come" symbolized much of the tech boom of the late 1990s. And that was the time when Hong Kong opened a new science park to make up for lost ground in the technology-driven business.

The inception of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park in 2001 initially seemed more of a real-estate project that aimed to create jobs in the technology sector.

Without the technology streak that is the trademark of the semiconductor industry, Hong Kong's usual formula didn't work. There were simply too many holes in the grand plan, which officials of the Science Park are now starting to address steadily. And Hong Kong is finally coming to terms with the realities of life in the silicon world.

Five years after its establishment, there are more signs of life in the park that at one point seemed more of a bland aggregation of nice buildings. Hoards of visitors and delegates are trooping to the once-quiet corridors of the Science Park. Renewed interest in the park is complemented by the construction of Phase Two, which is scheduled to be completed in 2007.

Elegant galleries now showcase the latest design wins against a backdrop of peaceful coexistence between the chip industry's big names and small design wannabes.

ON Semiconductor was one of the first prominent silicon vendors to move to the park in 2002. Philips Semiconductors and National Semiconductor recently settled in, a move that many observers hope would compel the rest of the key players to join the bandwagon.

The park's synergy concept has started to work well for small design outfits like Lexiwave Technology (Hong Kong) Ltd, who now find it easier to network with potential customers.

Lexiwave, an RF chipmaker, uses the park's infrastructure services by sharing the design tools for layout, test and debugging tasks. Design engineers at Lexiwave especially referred to the Failure Analysis Lab as a valuable resource that is made available to park tenants.

The Science Park sponsors special programs in which companies can invest in certain design tools and test devices that can later be shared with other tenants. For instance, Pericom Corp., one of the early tenants, is working with the Science Park management for the purchase of an HDMI switch that tests certain eye patterns for HDTV products.

Pericom's design house in the Science Park is focused on clock design for PC products. Although at present, there are only a few IC design houses in the park, that could change with the completion of Phase Two.

Hong Kong's inherent infrastructure advantage and wealth of information fortify its position in the semiconductor industry. And its proximity to the Guangdong area—probably the world's largest manufacturing base—makes it even more attractive to large chip vendors.

The Hong Kong Science and Technology Park may soon start to look like a small Silicon Valley in Asia. However, credibility remains an issue, and relationships—not incentives—will win over potential investors. Although its lower rental rates are a big come-on, the real motivation will come from the park's design focus on specific areas such as displays. Moreover, Hong Kong's marketing prowess has to be logically connected to the tech competitiveness required in the semiconductor business.

Whether Hong Kong will make it big in the fiercely competitive semiconductor world remains to be seen. However, in terms of infrastructure, it seems to have put itself on the right track.

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