Taiwan’s Semiconductor Success: Industry Expert Jack Chang

On this episode of China Field Notes, Scott Kennedy speaks with Jack Chang, one of the world’s foremost experts on Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. They discuss the industry in-depth, from the original policies that led to the establishment of companies like TSMC and UMC to disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The conversation then shifts to the current semiconductor landscape, including the challenges of U.S.-China tensions, increasing overseas investments, and debates about the meaning of supply chain resilience. Finally, they discuss future industry trends, including shifts to more advanced nodes and the exploration of alternative semiconductor materials like germanium. Dr. Jack C. Chang recently retired from the Industry, Science and Technology International Strategy Center of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Chutung, Taiwan, after 34 years of service. Most recently, he was senior strategy executive director for sustainability. During his tenure at ITRI, Chang served as principal investigator of various technology, policy & market research projects from public and private sectors. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the Graduate Institute of Patent of the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology in Taipei.

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Understanding China has become more difficult than ever. It has also become more important than ever. Whether the United States and China are rivals, partners, or a mix of both, effective policy will only be as good as the information on which it is based. Host Scott Kennedy, the Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS, has been one of the few American scholars to travel between Washington and Beijing in recent years. His travels are driven by a firm belief that field research, direct observation, and talking and listening to Chinese perspectives must be a part of our toolkit to understand the People’s Republic of China. Join Scott as he speaks to Chinese leaders from business, government, and academia, as well as foreigners who have spent many years living and working in China, on what makes China tick, where the country is going, what connects us, and what divides us. We’ll dive into all of that and more on China Field Notes – with Scott Kennedy.