TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, is commonly ranked among the world’s largest companies by market capitalization.
TSMC is the world’s leading dedicated semiconductor foundry, meaning it manufactures chips designed by other companies rather than primarily selling chips under its own consumer brand. This model allows customers to outsource production while retaining control of chip design.
The company was founded in Taiwan in 1987 by Morris Chang. Its advanced manufacturing processes became essential to processors used in smartphones, personal computers, data centers, and artificial-intelligence systems. Apple, Nvidia, and many other major technology companies have been associated with TSMC’s manufacturing ecosystem.
TSMC is sometimes confused with a chip designer such as Nvidia or a diversified electronics manufacturer such as Samsung Electronics. Its market value reflects the strategic importance of fabrication capacity, especially when demand for leading-edge chips exceeds available supply.