Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. established its first university research laboratory outside Taiwan at the University of Tokyo, marking another step in the chipmaker’s aggressive push to secure talent and strengthen ties with the Japanese government.
The TSMC-UTokyo Lab opened June 12 as the world’s largest contract chipmaker faces mounting challenges with overseas expansion projects. Construction of TSMC’s second Japanese factory has been delayed due to traffic congestion, while the company’s Arizona facility continues struggling with labor shortages.
The Tokyo laboratory will focus on semiconductor research spanning materials, devices and circuit design, with findings shared at technology symposiums. TSMC and UTokyo have collaborated since 2019 on 21 research projects, according to the companies.
The partnership reflects broader industry efforts to address talent shortages that executives repeatedly cite as their top challenge. TSMC has committed over $20 billion to its Japanese operations, including manufacturing facilities and research centers, making the country a key pillar of its diversification strategy away from Taiwan.
The lab represents TSMC’s continued confidence in Japan, where construction has proceeded more smoothly than in other markets. Industry sources say TSMC views Japan as having diligent workers and an accommodating government, contrasting with difficulties encountered in Arizona.
However, questions remain about whether the partnership primarily serves TSMC’s talent pipeline needs rather than advancing genuine semiconductor innovation.
