TSMC's Rise to Global Semiconductor Dominance: The Role of Early European Partnerships
October 24, 2026
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) emerged as a central player in advanced chip production, leveraging the early ecosystem built through international partnerships.
Dutch electronics company Philips contributed to Taiwan’s early electronics foundations by transferring industrial knowledge and production capabilities, helping seed later semiconductor development.
European tech relationships in the 1950s played a pivotal role, with Li Kwoh-ting actively pursuing foreign partnerships to build Taiwan’s domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Taiwan now produces more than 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, underscoring its critical role in global technology supply chains.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed Taiwan’s rise as a semiconductor leader, highlighting long-running industrial partnerships, government planning, and manufacturing know-how as foundational to its current dominance in chip production.
ASML, a Dutch lithography equipment supplier, grew to become a leading provider of lithography systems essential for modern semiconductor manufacturing, connecting back to Taiwan’s equipment and process development.
Summary based on 1 source
