Startup Island TAIWAN Podcast S1E7: TSMC and Taiwan's semiconductor industry, all started 40 years ago at a soy milk restaurant
Nov 25, 2022
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Taiwan’s Semiconductor Origins
- Taiwan's semiconductor industry started from a government initiative to shift from low-level manufacturing to high-tech industries.
- The strategy involved fundamental scientific research and collaboration with foreign firms for technology transfer.
Soy Milk Breakfast Pitch
- The idea for Taiwan's semiconductor project was pitched over breakfast at a soy milk restaurant, which is well known in Taiwan.
- This meeting convinced political leaders to invest millions for a semiconductor initiative quickly.
Strategic CMOS Focus
- Taiwan focused on CMOS technology, aiming to find a niche due to impossibility to compete in the dominant NMOS space.
- This strategic choice favored lower energy usage and positioned Taiwan uniquely in semiconductor technology.