In celebrating the 10th anniversary of SMIC, CEO David Wang ushers in a new era of China semiconductor manufacturing with triumphs versus promises. By triumphs David means profits, which SMIC saw for the first time in Q2 2010. The future looks even brighter for SMIC as the China semiconductor demand versus supply gap is an estimated… Read More
TSMC OIP Conference 2010 Critique!
Okay, this is more of a, “What I would do if I was TSMC” than a critique, but I needed a one word descriptor for the title. This was the third TSMC OIP Conference and I would guess about 250 people attended. This was the first time I have seen TSMC in “reactive” mode versus “proactive” leadership mode, so I was a bit disappointed. TSMC is … Read More
TSMC GigaFab Tour!
During my most recent Taiwan trip I was not only afforded a meeting with Dr Mark Liu, Sr VP of TSMC, a guided tour of GigaFab #12 was also included. Even more impressive, I’m now considered “Elite” by Eva Airlines so I automatically get the good seats, better food, and VIP service. My wife, however, is not impressed with my Elite status… Read More
GlobalFoundries Exposed, Part II!
EDA CEO panels are usually rather dull but this one definitely held my interest. It was standing room only and I was surrounded by familiar faces from not only EDA and IP company executives, but also representatives from the top semiconductor companies around the world! The theme of course was collaboration, promoting the GFI “IDM-Like”… Read More
GlobalFoundries Exposed!
The GlobalFoundries Technical Conference last week was one of the best I’ve seen. The theme of the conference was “GlobalFoundries is bringing the collaborative IDM semiconductor design and manufacturing culture to the merchant foundry business!”
“We ramped volume production at the 45/40nm node well ahead of all foundries… Read More
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (NYSE: TSM)
After working with TSMC the past 10+ years the single most compelling question I have is why the stock (NYSE: TSM) is not at record highs. TSMC invented and continues to dominate the foundry business which is clearly the future of modern semiconductor design and manufacture. So why is this not a $20+ stock?!?!?
TSMC reports 36%+ net… Read More
TSMC Unveils First Ever AMS Reference Flow!
As a quick follow-up to my blog TSMC Extends Open Innovation Platform, TSMC today announced the Analog/Mixed Signal Reference Flow 1.0., another key collaborative component of TSMC’s Open Innovation Platform™.
The TSMC AMS Design Flow 1.0’s design package is integrated seamlessly on top of the 28nm interoperable process design… Read More
TSMC Extends Open Innovation Platform
TSMC today extended one of the most effective semiconductor design enablement initiatives the semiconductor world has ever seen, the Open Innovation Platform (OIP). Morris Chang coined the term “OIP” himself in 2008, but the effort itself is 10+ years old with a collective cost > .5B$. My other blogs on topic include: TSMC … Read More
TSMC versus GlobalFoundries: Semiconductor Design Enablement!
As mentioned in previous blogs, design enablement is a key enabler to fabless semiconductor design and manufacture, without question. The purpose of this blog (in 500 words) is to compare and contrast two very different design enablement strategies and engage the semiconductor community in a meaningful discussion.
The GlobalFoundry… Read More
TSMC OIP vs CDNS OIP Analysis
Launched in April 2008, the TSMC OIP initiative is a collaborative strategy aimed at breaking down the barriers of semiconductor design enablement in order to reduce waste and increase the profitability of the industry as a whole.
The TSMC Open Innovation Platform promotes timeliness-driven innovation amongst the semiconductor… Read More
Elon Musk Given CHIPS Act & AI Oversight – Mulls Relocation of Taiwanese Fabs