Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)
About
In 1987 Morris Chang made a bet that the semiconductor industry thought was crazy: build a company that only manufactures chips for other companies, selling no products under its own name. Four decades later, that company — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company — fabricates more than half of the world's advanced chips, and the 'pure-play foundry' model it invented has become the backbone of the entire industry. TSMC's customers are the names on the chips: Apple, Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, and hundreds of fabless designers who bring only designs and leave with wafers. Its technology lead comes from relentless process-node progression — 5nm, 4nm, 3nm, and beyond — plus a willingness to spend: annual capital expenditure of US$30 billion or more keeps its fabs ahead of every rival. The company's first fab outside Taiwan, in Arizona, began production in 2024, part of a global expansion driven by geopolitical demand. With roughly 76,000 employees and revenue near US$70 billion, TSMC's practical importance is hard to overstate: virtually every advanced chip in every smartphone, server, and AI accelerator on earth passes through its cleanrooms. For electronics buyers, TSMC is less a supplier than an industry utility — the one foundry the rest of the world quietly depends on.
Also known as: TSMC
Frequently Asked Questions
What does TSMC do?+
TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) is the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry. It manufactures chips designed by other companies such as Apple, Nvidia and AMD, rather than selling chips under its own name.
Where is TSMC based?+
TSMC is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan. It also operates fabs in the United States, Japan and Europe as part of its global expansion.
Who founded TSMC?+
TSMC was founded in 1987 by Morris Chang, who pioneered the pure-play foundry business model.
How big is TSMC?+
TSMC employs roughly 76,000 people and generates annual revenue near US$70 billion, fabricating more than half of the world's most advanced chips.
