TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's semiconductor giant TSMC (台積電) broke new ground Thursday (June 12) by establishing its first international university partnership through the launch of the TSMC-UTokyo Lab with the University of Tokyo (東京大學). The groundbreaking collaboration represents a strategic milestone in semiconductor research, education, and talent development between Asia's leading chip manufacturer and Japan's premier academic institution. Executive Vice President Y.J. Mii (米玉傑) described the laboratory as a foundation for sustained partnership that harnesses both organizations' expertise and innovation capabilities.
University of Tokyo President Teruo Fujii positioned the TSMC partnership as a strategic response to global technological challenges while fostering the next generation of semiconductor talent. The collaboration establishes a framework for sustained innovation and cooperation in the rapidly evolving semiconductor industry. Fujii's vision emphasizes the critical role of international academic-industry partnerships in addressing complex technological demands facing the global economy.
TSMC's strategic objectives center on accelerating research and development in cutting-edge semiconductor technologies while cultivating talent to achieve next-generation sustainable technology goals. The partnership has already demonstrated remarkable productivity, with 21 collaborative research projects completed since 2019 generating significant scientific and technological advances. The University of Tokyo made history in 2023 by introducing the "TSMC N16 (FinFET) ADFP" course within its engineering curriculum, marking Japan's first such specialized semiconductor program.
TSMC and the University of Tokyo formalized their partnership through a Strategic Industrial/Academic Collaboration Agreement signed in April, establishing frameworks for research advancement, educational innovation, and talent development alongside social cooperation initiatives. The TSMC-UTokyo Lab operates from the Asano district within the university's historic Hongo campus under faculty management oversight. The facility serves as the central hub for industry-academia collaboration, bridging corporate innovation with academic research excellence.
The laboratory will concentrate on comprehensive semiconductor technology research encompassing materials science, component development, and manufacturing processes, with findings disseminated through the university's established technology symposiums. These academic forums, launched in 2019, create vital platforms for knowledge exchange between TSMC engineers and university researchers while identifying new collaborative research opportunities. The symposium series facilitates ongoing dialogue that strengthens the industry-academia partnership and drives innovation in semiconductor technology development. ◼
