Tech Chip renaissance predicted for Japan

[thomas]

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. founder and towering industry figure Morris Chang predicted a "chip renaissance" in Japan as the country attempts to regain the chip-making glory it enjoyed in the 1980s. The Taiwanese chip giant TSMC is set to open a USD 8.6 billion plant in Japan on Saturday as the firm moves some of its crucial hardware manufacturing away from its native base. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which counts Apple and Nvidia as clients, produces half the world's chips, used in everything from smartphones to satellites and increasingly to power AI technology.

Addressing industry figures, government officials and dozens of reporters at the ceremony, Chang recounted his first trip to Japan. He arrived in 1968 as vice president of Texas Instruments' integrated circuit business to start a joint venture with Sony in Japan. The first person he met during that visit was Akio Morita, the legendary founder of the electronics titan. During their two-hour conversation, Chang recalled, Morita told him: "You will be pleasantly surprised by the yield you will achieve in Japan." Yield is a key measure of production quality and is crucial in determining whether a chip plant can operate efficiently enough to generate a profit. The TSMC founder said he later helped start several chip plants for TI across Japan. To his surprise, Chang said, "Mr. Morita's prediction came true."

Paywall alert

TSMC founder Morris Chang predicts Japan 'chip renaissance'

Former Texas Instruments VP notes 'talent similarities between Taiwan and Japan'

asia.nikkei.com

TSMC opens first chip plant in Japan for Sony and Renesas

Prime Minister Kishida announces support for company's second plant in Kumamoto

asia.nikkei.com

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will reportedly be among those attending Saturday afternoon's opening ceremony with senior TSMC executives. Firms like Toshiba and NEC helped Japan dominate in microchips in the 1980s, but competition from South Korea and Taiwan saw its global market share slump from more than 50 per cent to around 10 per cent. Now, Japan is making up to four trillion JPY ($26.7 billion) in state sweeteners to help triple the sales of domestically produced chips to more than 15 trillion JPY by 2030. The new TSMC plant in Kikuyo, for which the government pledged over 40 per cent of the costs -- Sony and Denso are also on board -- is just the first.

Chip giant TSMC shifts away from hot spot Taiwan with Japan plant

The chipmaker's new plant in Kumamoto will boost the resilience of global supplies of the crucial hardware, founder Morris Chang told an opening ceremony.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[johnnyG]

This is an article that I saw:

https://www.reuters.com/technology/taiwan-chip-firms-flock-japan-china-decoupling-accelerates-2024-02-21/

Also a youtube that I haven't watched yet, but was recommended:



What may be happening is process of leap-frogging (tho there may be a better name for it). E.g., the US had a good phone system (wired) long before other countries. But many other countries, instead of going for that, skipped it and went straight to cell. Similar with computer/laptop oriented web stuff--some things go direct to mobile. Then those older systems play catch up, or don't, and the systems, or manufacturing tech/businesses get 'stale', are considered to be in their sunset phase, etc.

But now a resurgence, perhaps to return to the forefront?