TSMC To Bring Its Most Advanced Chip Manufacturing To Arizona

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company plans to bring its most advanced technology to Arizona, the founder of the chip giant said Monday. From a report: TSMC's plans come as tensions between Washington and Beijing are rising over chips, with President Joe Biden imposing a sweeping set of controls on the sale of advanced chips and chip-making equipment to Chinese firms. Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that the Chinese Communist Party claims as its own territory despite having never controlled it, has also faced growing military aggression from Beijing in recent months -- throwing a spotlight on the critical role the island plays in the global chipmaking industry. TSMC accounts for an estimated 90% of the world's super-advanced computer chips, supplying tech giants including Apple and Qualcomm.

'Chips are very important products,' TSMC's founder Morris Chang said Monday at a press briefing in Taipei. 'It seems that people are only starting to realize this recently, and as a result, lots of people out there are envious of Taiwan's chip manufacturing.' Chang has retired but remains an influential force within the industry. Advances in chip manufacturing require etching ever-smaller transistors on to silicon wafers. Chang said its plant in Arizona will produce 3-nanometer chips, TSMC's most advanced technology. In 2020, the company had already committed at least $12 billion to build its first facility in Arizona. At the time, the tech giant had said that the facility will 'utilize TSMC's 5-nanometer technology for semiconductor wafer fabrication' and 'create over 1,600 high-tech professional jobs directly.' Production is expected to begin in 2024.

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