A TSMC-ASML Consortium for Distributed Fabs
January 23, 2022

Semiconductor resilience needs one world-class center of knowledge and many places that can turn knowledge into chips. Brian Greenforest proposes a TSMC-ASML consortium that advances process science centrally while operating a geographically distributed network of mature-node fabs.

The division of labor preserves the concentration that makes semiconductor research powerful and distributes order fulfillment so capacity, logistics, and regional access can scale.

Keep the Einsteins Together, Spread the Capacity

TSMC and ASML hold extraordinary process, equipment, metrology, and manufacturing knowledge. A consortium can keep those disciplines in one tightly connected scientific forum, then transfer stable 250-to-130-nanometer processes into controlled local production sites.

Mature nodes support control systems, industrial electronics, vehicles, infrastructure, education, and countless products that do not require the newest geometry. More local fabs would turn that demand into regional capability.

Build a Larger Semiconductor Network

Central coordination can set recipes, equipment standards, training, quality systems, and continuous improvement. Distributed sites can shorten supply lines, expand output, and cultivate local engineering talent without fragmenting the core research community.

Semiconductor leaders, governments, universities, and manufacturing partners can build this consortium now. The opportunity reaches beyond democratization: it creates durable capacity.

Build the Fabrication Path Behind A TSMC-ASML Consortium for Distributed Fabs

The Missing Maker Fab carries this work into the tools and processes required to fabricate fast active devices locally.

The Missing Maker Fab

Originally posted on LinkedIn

Brian Greenforest · (2022-01-23 19:36:57 UTC)

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TSMC must form the top scientific, technologist, and engineering forum, along with ASML, and form a CONSORTIUM, where they will keep "all Einsteins in the same Princeton University," while opening and controlling, and sharing wisdom with: a geo-distributed NETWORK of MANY LOCAL silicon fabs of, say, 250..130 nm process. #knowledge must be developed and progressed at one place; #orderfulfillment must be as distributed as possible. TSMC can and should grow much larger, if they will be able to overcome greed, anger (pride), and ignorance. 🙏🧘‍♂️ It's not about #democratization it's about #capacity