Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd. changed the integrated circuit business forever in 1987, by opening the first wafer fabrication facility dedicated entirely to manufacturing for other companies. An unconventional idea at the time, it has since proven to be the predominant business model for the IC industry, superseding vertical integration. TSMC’s method frees IC designers from the costs of building and maintaining their own manufacturing facilities. With a lower cost of entry and reduced time-to-market, nearly 1,000 new fabless integrated circuit companies have been established worldwide. They have led to increased competition and innovation, and extraordinary industry growth.

A few years into its second decade, TSMC remains the world’s largest semiconductor foundry and is a leader in advanced technology development. With a strong emphasis on customer collaboration, the company has developed leading Internet-based services in design support, supply-chain and logistics.