The global semiconductor industry, considered today a strategic sector for national security and economic development, experienced a new demonstration of international unity this week. The Semicon Network Summit, held in Taipei and organized by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and SEMI, brought together over 600 participants from 28 countries, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic. The notable absence: China, despite being one of the most influential players in global chip manufacturing.
Taipei, at the Heart of Global Conversation
The event was inaugurated by Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, who welcomed international leaders and emphasized the importance of building a more resilient and reliable semiconductor ecosystem. He highlighted that the Taiwanese government will soon launch the “Top Ten Infrastructure Projects in AI”, covering everything from quantum computing to robotics and silicon photonics, with the goal of establishing Taiwan as a world-class innovation hub.
The summit focused on four main themes:
- Fostering global semiconductor dialogue.
- Strengthening trustworthy cross-border supply chain partnerships.
- Collaborating on AI chip development.
- Tackling the shortage of specialized talent.
Industry Leaders Honored
During the event, President Lai awarded the Economic Contribution Medal to two key figures:
- Akira Amari, Honorary Chairman of Japan’s Parliamentarian Alliance for Semiconductor Strategies, for promoting strategic collaboration between Japan and Taiwan.
- C.C. Wei, CEO of TSMC, in recognition of his leadership and for establishing Taiwan as an international leader in chip innovation and manufacturing.
This gesture symbolizes not only bilateral cooperation but also the growing interdependence among advanced industrial democracies during a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
The Sensitive Topic: Excluding China
China’s absence from the list of participants has been interpreted as a deliberate geopolitical move. Despite housing SMIC, a growing domestic foundry and a major part of global assembly and testing capacity, Beijing was not invited to the summit.
Experts suggest that this exclusion is part of Taiwan and the U.S. allies’ strategy to develop secure supply chains that reduce dependency on China amid trade restrictions, export controls, and escalating competition in advanced nodes like 5 nm and 3 nm.
AI Chips at the Forefront
The future of AI chips was a key discussion topic. Attendees focused on how to modularize and integrate components to speed up the design and manufacture of high-performance circuits.
With increasing demand for generative AI models and intelligent agents, manufacturers like TSMC, Intel Foundry Services (IFS), and Samsung Foundry are compelled to scale their production capacities while facing talent shortages and energy constraints in many countries.
The Talent War
During the human capital development session, ITRI President Edwin Liu highlighted three urgent challenges:
- Imbalance between supply and demand for highly skilled engineers.
- Rapid skills transformation in a market changing every two or three years.
- Fierce competition among countries to attract top professionals.
Taiwan’s approach involves training profiles “in T”, with deep specialization in one area and broad cross-disciplinary knowledge, through practical training programs and international collaborations between universities and the industry.
Conclusion: Global Cooperation vs. Fragmentation
The Semicon Network Summit in Taipei made clear that international cooperation is seen as the only way to ensure the resilience of the global semiconductor supply chain. However, China’s exclusion also underscores the rising fragmentation of the market, where technology increasingly intertwines with geopolitics.
Thanks to TSMC’s prominence, Taiwan is emerging not only as a technological leader but also as a strategic mediator in building international alliances aimed at securing chip supplies and protection in an increasingly digital and vulnerable world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why was China not invited to the Semicon Network Summit?
China was excluded due to geopolitical and security reasons. The summit aimed to strengthen trusted supply chains among allied countries amid restrictions and tensions with Beijing.
What role does TSMC play in this global strategy?
TSMC is the world’s largest dedicated chip manufacturer and a central part of the global supply chain. Its technological leadership makes Taiwan an indispensable partner for the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
How important are AI chips in this debate?
They are crucial for the future of the digital economy. Their production requires advanced nodes and EUV lithography processes, intensifying competition for manufacturing capacity and talent.
Which countries participated in the summit?
A total of 28 countries, including the United States, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic, along with representatives from the European Union.
via: Semicon