An extremely expensive game of one-upmanship is being played out in the semiconductor industry, where the winners will look like heroes and the rest might not even survive. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co founder Morris Chang speaks at a forum in Taipei on April 21. This sudden hunger for capacity is being pinned on the recent component shortage that has crimped automobile output and driven up prices. Known as the godfather of the Taiwanese chip industry, Chang has repeatedly noted that high costs, a dearth of local suppliers and comparative lack of talent put the US behind Taiwan and other nations. However, cheered on and funded by eager politicians, global semiconductor companies are accelerating toward a capacity expansion cliff.

Source: Taipei Times October 31, 2021 04:01 UTC