TSMC opens state-of-the-art semiconductor base in Tsukuba

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:49 JST, June 27, 2022

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has opened a state-of-the-art semiconductor technology development center in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture.

The Japanese government offered a subsidy of about ¥19 billion to attract the world’s largest contract semiconductor maker, which will use the center to research manufacturing technology, or post-processing, which affects the performance of semiconductors.

The facility of TSMC subsidiary TSMC Japan 3DIC R&D Center is located within the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, a research and development corporation under the jurisdiction of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.

It has been said the narrower the linewidth, the higher the performance of semiconductors. But conventional manufacturing methods are limited in how narrow they can make the linewidth. The new center will study technologies in materials science for silicon stacking and advanced packaging.

The Japanese government is cooperating with TSMC to raise the level of its manufacturing and development technology, which lags behind that of foreign companies. It will also provide up to ¥476 billion to Sony Group Corp. and other companies to build an advanced semiconductor plant in Kumamoto Prefecture.

At Friday’s opening ceremony, TSMC Chief Executive Officer C. C. Wei said that Taiwan and Japan have important links in the global chip supply chain.

“By bringing TSMC together with Japan’s talent, we will empower each other to make breakthroughs together,” he said.