TSMC: There is currently no specific plan to set up factories in Europe

Although the European Union is currently launching a series of semiconductor manufacturing revitalization projects, TSMC responded that there is currently no plan to set up a fab in Europe.

According to a report by eeNews on February 16, Europe is considering spending billions or even tens of billions of euros to try to improve the strategic position of the chip industry chain, but domestic chip manufacturers in any EU country are unlikely to produce advanced technology chips. Therefore, the "Important Plan for Common European Interests" (IPCEI) came into being to strengthen R&D in the semiconductor field through government subsidies.

In order to attract the world's leading foundry companies to set up factories locally, Japan, the United States and other countries have introduced corresponding government incentive plans, and have received varying degrees of response from TSMC.

Established in 1987, TSMC received strong assistance from Philips Semiconductors at the beginning of its establishment. It has long been calling for a "return to Europe", but it has always kept a close eye on the question of whether to set up factories within the EU.

When asked whether TSMC will support the European semiconductor manufacturing revitalization plan, Maria Merced, President of TSMC Europe, told eeNews Europe: “We have noticed IPCEI and other related initiatives. TSMC does not rule out any possibility, but currently There is no specific plan to set up a factory in Europe."

The global importance of European semiconductor customers is mainly concentrated in the field of automotive chips, and is currently trapped in the global automotive chip shortage crisis. Although GF and other important wafer manufacturing companies have factories in Dresden, Germany, most of the European wafer fabs do not pursue the world's most advanced level below 10nm, which is an important reason for the launch of the IPCEI project.