'Taiwan Semiconductor Father' Zhang Zhongmou: "Building a 3nm Chip Factory in the US"

Jiang Zhongmou, founder of Taiwan's TSMC, meeting with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (left)
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] Morris Chang, founder and former chairman of Taiwan's TSMC, announced on the 22nd that he plans to build an advanced 3-nanometer chip factory in Arizona, USA.

After attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand, Chang responded to reporters' questions about the plan to relocate the 3-nanometer chip factory by saying, "We will do that after building the 5-nanometer (factory)." The 3-nanometer process narrows the circuit linewidth of semiconductor chips to about 3 ten-thousandths the thickness of a human hair. It is mainly used in artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputers.

On the same day, Chang stated that TSMC is investing in the United States. TSMC is currently pushing forward with the construction of a 5-nanometer chip factory in Arizona. Major foreign media interpreted this statement as meaning that once the 5-nanometer chip factory is built, a 3-nanometer chip factory will also be constructed. However, Chang did not specify when the construction of the 3-nanometer chip factory would begin.

TSMC will hold an equipment installation ceremony at the Arizona factory on the 6th of next month and will begin full-scale factory construction. The ceremony will be attended by Chang and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. TSMC plans to manufacture 5-nanometer process semiconductor products at the Arizona factory starting in 2024.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.