TSMC

TSMC maintains that its advanced chipmaking roadmap, including the 1.4-nanometer (A14) process, doesn’t currently require High-NA EUV lithography. The company is prioritizing optimizing their existing EUV technology, achieving significant performance improvements using innovative designs like their second-generation nanosheet GAA, delaying the need for the costly high-NA systems. This strategy highlights TSMC’s focus on cost-effectiveness and technological innovation.

TSMC’s limited-edition employee suitcase, made with Bayer’s aerospace-grade Makrolon, has resold for up to NT$500,000 ($16,100) on secondary markets. Distributed as a 2024 internal reward, its lightweight durability and branded design have fueled collector demand. Analysts attribute this to Asia’s luxury resale trends valuing rare corporate memorabilia and TSMC’s strong employer branding amid tech talent competition. Similar frenzy surrounded prior TSMC collectibles like mugs and snacks, reflecting its cult-like status. The phenomenon underscores how workplace incentives inadvertently create high-value commodities, blending engineering prestige with cultural symbolism in Taiwan’s tech circles.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s discreet Taiwan visit for semiconductor strategy talks with TSMC leaders sparked attention after the RM 27-05 Rafael Nadal flying tourbillon watch he wore became public. The carbon-composite timepiece, valued at about $929,000, features aerospace-grade shock resistance (14,000g) and ultra-light 11.5g construction as part of a limited 80-piece series developed with the tennis legend. Analysts noted parallels between RICHARD MILLE’s engineering excellence and NVIDIA’s chip design philosophy, while social media debates highlighted differing perspectives on technical aesthetics versus ostentation, citing industry data showing 56% of ultra-high-net-worth individuals favor tourbillon timepieces. The incident underlines Huang’s calculated approach to narrative control amid the 3nm chip race.