If you consider GlobalFoundries to be a valid competitor, then that move would make a lot of sense. Infineon and AMD used to do a lot of research and production in Dresden. The AMD fab has since become a part of GlobalFoundries. But there's still a healthy ecosystem of university research and medium-sized software companies. Or at least there was, when I visited GlobalFoundries in 2014.<p>Also, there has been a growing amount of research activity into chip design in Germany lately, driven in no small part by CERN's needs.<p>For example
<a href="https://ohwr.org/project/white-rabbit/wikis/home" rel="nofollow">https://ohwr.org/project/white-rabbit/wikis/home</a>
used by the Control and Timing System at CERN and GSI
TSMC is really the keystone for everything else done that ends up getting talked about on this website. They are constantly at the bleeding edge of computer manufacture and pushing it further still. We should feel some sense of amazement to be alive still in the middle of the computer revolution.
Just recently we've discussed "faltering" talks in Europe <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27161217" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27161217</a> and "eyeing" Japan <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/TSMC-eyes-plans-for-first-chip-plant-in-Japan" rel="nofollow">https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/TSMC-ey...</a><p>I wonder if this media noise is more to do with negotiation tactics than with real intentions.
This is a major geopolitical decission. TSMC is responisble for 1/3 of chips worldwide (in an industry with few players). China's claim on Taiwan has a lot to do with that.
Also, according to article linked below (in German), Intel is considering building a semiconductor factory in Germany. The had plans in 2003, but the project failed and cost the German taxpayer a small fortune.<p>I am very sceptical regarding the plans of Intel, but the TSMC plan sounds promising. If I were to decide, I would build a factory in Saxonia near Dresden. People there are traditionally inventive, labor costs are far lower than in the Munich region, and there is a lot of skill available due to the previous AMD investments.<p>Link to article: <a href="https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/mensch-metropole/chipfabrik-von-intel-in-frankfurt-oder-es-geht-um-milliarden-li.162695" rel="nofollow">https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/mensch-metropole/chipfabrik-...</a>
Germany has the highest electricity prices worldwide. I wouldn’t build any larger factory there these days:<p>> <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/263492/electricity-prices-in-selected-countries/" rel="nofollow">https://www.statista.com/statistics/263492/electricity-price...</a>
I'm wondering about Italy. They have an established industrial base. They manufacture a surprising amount of high tech, but don't brag about it like Germany.
Many good European neighbours to provide a broad range of skilled workers and researchers.
I hope the German ans EU labour laws atleast make the working conditions bearable. Working at TSMC is hellish. I worked as a tool vendor. It was crazy.
It does make some sort of sense if you're trying to stay clear of the US/China catfight & EU is not a bad place to start in that regard. Plus it ticks the box of EU origin, which is interesting in itself if you want to expand there.
A lot of people seem to think (high, German) Labour costs matter in this desicion. I don't think they do. If TSCM hires someone 1% better than the other guy, he makes them millions more with a better design/brighter idea etc. So paying 50% more on his salary is very affordable. That's the difference between a high tech company and amazon, Walmart etc.<p>Germany seems like exactly the place I'd look for a highly educated workforce and one with a strong engineering culture. AND a place where workers will stay for a lifetime not just jump ship every 24months or take a fat cheque from China to move there and build them a TSCM copy.<p>I'd be more worried about German pollution, health and safety etc laws, as this is a dirty industry. And I'd be more worried about getting a big chunk of land and planning permission.
not really related but I found this really interesting channel with many TSMC/Taiwan/semiconducting related video, as well as asian geopolitics if you're into that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAlU6vQ1Pn8" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAlU6vQ1Pn8</a>
Wonder how much TSMC Biontech vaccine deal influenced decision. Assume some level of gov involvement considering Germany was annoyed that US car manufactures got first dibs during shortage.
I was curious about this statement:<p>>"TSMC supplies chips to almost all the key global chip developers, from Apple, Qualcomm and Advanced Microelectronics Devices to Intel, Infineon and Sony."<p>When exactly did Intel become a customer of TSMC? Is this for a recent process technology or is this only for specific types of chips? I under the impression Intel chips always came from their own fabs.
Europe has so many great countries. Street reading the comments about Germany and it's internal policies, why not choose elsewhere?
Finland, Sweden, Poland, etc etc etc
From a security point of view, it's interesting that they don't look to build a fab in the UK.
Given that the Europe used to be an arena of devastating conflicts - with things like completely levelled down cities, to murders on an industrial scale, the long term investment like this may be subject to a lot of uncertainty as the EU moves closer towards being an authoritarian regime, this may wake up internal conflicts that are deeply embedded in some of the nations.
I find it surprising that they are choosing Germany - after everybody is seeing what Germany is doing to Tesla's Gigafactory there (embroiling it in so much red tape that Elon wishes he could pull out if it weren't for sunk cost). It seems that Germany has a very good ability to convince and lobby these mega-manufacturers to base themselves there, but a very poor ability to actually let them succeed after making that decision.<p>TSMC would be wiser to invest in the UK - where there is a strong political will to remove barriers to entry - and it is of course where ARM are already based and therefore has a very strong overlap of skills. There is also far less likelihood of exports being restricted during a possible future crisis by the political whims of failed politicians i.e. it is a politically more stable bet.