TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC) CEO Luc Van den hove said on Wednesday (May 22) that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) should be provided overseas incentives for expansion.
In an interview with CNA at ITF World 2024, Van den hove said under the European Chips Act, IMEC received an investment of 2.5 billion euros (NT$87.2 billion) from the European Commission and the Flemish government in Belgium. The funding will be used for developing systems-on-chip beyond 2 nanometers, the CEO said.
Regarding potential exclusionary effects of the Chips Act, Van den hove said semiconductors are a global industry and must prioritize collaboration. He noted that each country’s chip legislation aims to ensure secure access to advanced manufacturing capacity, making it crucial to invest in various production locations.
Van den hove said with 90% of the world’s advanced chips produced at TSMC’s Taiwan plant, the global risk is too high, necessitating diversification. He acknowledged that labor and other costs are significantly higher in Europe, and policy incentives to balance these costs are important.
However, Van den hove mentioned that wafer fabs are highly automated, and labor is just one part of the cost structure, suggesting that this aspect should not be overly emphasized.
When asked about IMEC’s recent significant reduction in cooperation with China, Van den hove responded, “The world is changing, and in this new equilibrium, it has become very, very difficult to collaborate with everyone. Therefore, we must have strong partnerships with companies in the U.S., Europe, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.”
IMEC focuses on cutting-edge semiconductor technology research, counting major global semiconductor companies such as TSMC, Samsung, and Intel as its clients, reported CNA. It is also a key player in the EU’s push for semiconductor autonomy.
