Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will be part of the industry's drive in the development of wafer manufacturing processes below 14nm, according to company chairman and CEO Morris Chang. TSMC has set an ambitious target of US$4.8 billion in capex for 2010, and will increase its workforce to 29,000 from 20,000 in 2009, said Chang.
Chang indicated that the global semiconductor market will only see moderate growth from 2011-14 because of a number of reasons, one of which is a slowdown in the pace as defined by Moore's Law.
But according to Moore's Law, the 20nm generation will soon arrive, and the next geometry node will also come in the foreseeable future, Chang said. Chang said TSMC's process transition to 10nm may not take place during his tenure, but the company will do its best to move to the next levels.
TSMC has to spend more on R&D to cope with the challenge of Moore's Law as well as the rising costs of new manufacturing tools, Chang indicated. It has also stepped up its headhunting efforts, he added.
Chang also noted that TSMC's estimates for the global chip market in 2010 and 2011 remain unchanged. The overall chip sector is poised for a 22% growth in 2010 after two years of decline. Following the rebound, the sector will grow by 7% in 2011.
Chang made the remarks at a recent company technology forum in San Jose, the US.
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