TSMC manufactures semiconductors for clients such as Apple and Nvidia and is based in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company pioneered the dedicated foundry model, in which a company manufactures chips designed by other firms. This allows customers to focus on architecture and product design without owning comparable fabrication plants.
TSMC produces advanced processors for smartphones, graphics systems, artificial-intelligence accelerators, and many other devices. Its manufacturing scale and process technology have made it a critical supplier to major global technology companies.
The company was founded in 1987 by Morris Chang. It is often confused with chip designers such as Nvidia or Qualcomm, and with integrated manufacturers such as Intel and Samsung. TSMC’s distinctive role is contract manufacturing: its customers generally design the chips, while TSMC fabricates them.