TSMC was established in Taiwan in 1987 by Morris Chang as the world's first dedicated semiconductor foundry.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company pioneered the pure-play foundry model. Instead of designing and selling its own branded processors, TSMC manufactures chips designed by other companies.
That separation allowed chip designers to avoid building their own expensive fabrication plants. It helped create a specialized semiconductor ecosystem in which companies could focus on architecture and design while relying on a manufacturing partner for production.
TSMC became a crucial supplier to technology companies worldwide, producing advanced chips for smartphones, computers, networking equipment, and artificial-intelligence systems. Its strategic importance comes from both its scale and its leading-edge manufacturing capabilities.