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Taiwan is home to some of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, who design and manufacture the integrated circuits that underpin a range of technologies. Here, in a series of articles, we explore how Taiwan became a leading player in the global electronics industry.
Unique circumstances in Taiwan led to the creation of the foundry model, where an integrated circuit manufacturer has no products of its own and its plants produce only customer designs. The model has reshaped the global semiconductor industry and is well positioned to be at the heart of technological innovation in the industry.
Through a combination of talent cultivation and innovative research and development, the integrated circuit design industry in Taiwan now plays a central role in global electronics.