TSMC is the world’s largest dedicated contract chip manufacturer.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, commonly called TSMC, was founded in 1987 by Morris Chang in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Its central business model is the foundry model: it manufactures chips designed by other companies rather than primarily selling chips under its own consumer brand.
This role makes TSMC a crucial supplier for advanced processors used in smartphones, servers, graphics systems, and artificial-intelligence applications. Customers include major chip designers that outsource production while concentrating on architecture and product design.
TSMC is sometimes confused with companies such as Intel or Samsung Electronics, which also design and manufacture semiconductors but have broader business models. TSMC’s importance to market-cap rankings comes from its position in the global semiconductor supply chain, especially its manufacturing technologies and large investment in fabrication plants.