TSMC is the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a major market-cap leader.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, usually called TSMC, manufactures chips designed by other companies. This pure-play foundry model lets customers such as fabless semiconductor designers use advanced production facilities without owning their own factories.
TSMC was founded in Taiwan in 1987 by Morris Chang. It helped establish the modern foundry industry and became a crucial supplier for processors used in smartphones, computers, data centers, and artificial-intelligence systems. Its advanced manufacturing processes are especially important for high-performance chips.
TSMC’s market capitalization rose as investors recognized the strategic value of its manufacturing scale and its role in the AI supply chain. TSMC does not generally design the consumer chips whose logos appear on devices; it manufactures many chips designed by customers. That distinction separates it from integrated manufacturers such as Intel and Samsung, although those companies also operate foundries.