Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is commonly abbreviated as TSMC.
TSMC was founded in Taiwan in 1987 by Morris Chang and pioneered the dedicated semiconductor foundry model. Rather than designing most of its own consumer chips, TSMC manufactures chips designed by other companies. This separation lets customers focus on architecture and product design while using TSMC’s advanced production facilities.
The company makes semiconductors for smartphones, computers, data centers, automobiles, and artificial-intelligence systems. Its manufacturing technology became strategically important as demand grew for powerful and energy-efficient chips.
TSMC became one of the world’s most valuable companies because its production capacity and advanced process technologies serve many leading chip designers. It is listed in Taiwan and in the United States through American depositary receipts. TSMC is also frequently discussed in connection with Taiwan’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain.