TSMC operates the world's largest semiconductor foundry and was founded in Taiwan in 1987.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company was founded by Morris Chang in Hsinchu, Taiwan, in 1987. Its central innovation was a dedicated foundry model: TSMC manufactures chips designed by other companies rather than competing with customers by selling its own branded processors.
That approach enabled “fabless” designers to create advanced chips without building and operating their own expensive fabrication plants. TSMC produces semiconductors for customers across smartphones, computing, automotive technology, networking, and artificial intelligence.
TSMC is often confused with chip designers such as Nvidia or Qualcomm. Those companies develop chip architectures and products, while TSMC is primarily the manufacturing partner. Intel and Samsung also operate major foundries, but TSMC is especially associated with the pure-play foundry model and leading-edge contract manufacturing.