TSMC became the world’s most valuable semiconductor manufacturer by market capitalization during the 2020s.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, commonly called TSMC, operates the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry. A foundry manufactures chips designed by other companies, allowing customers to outsource production instead of building their own fabrication plants.
TSMC’s market value rose as demand grew for advanced processors used in smartphones, data centers, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing. Its leading-edge manufacturing capabilities made it a critical supplier to many global technology companies.
TSMC was founded in Taiwan in 1987 by Morris Chang. Unlike integrated device manufacturers that design and produce their own branded chips, TSMC primarily manufactures chips for customers. This business model is a frequent source of confusion when comparing TSMC with Intel or Samsung.