TSMC to build 5nm plant in the US, rumored to be coordinated by Vice President Zhang Zongsheng

According to Taiwan media Economic Daily, TSMC will build a wafer factory in Phoenix, Arizona, and is expected to produce 5-nanometer process products in the first half of 2024. The relevant factory construction plan has been vigorously promoted. Recently, it was reported that in addition to the two generals in charge of the factory construction, Vice President Zhang Zongsheng will be the overall commander of the new 5-nanometer factory.

TSMC will invest US$3.5 billion to set up a 12-inch wafer factory in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. It is expected to produce 5-nanometer process products in the first half of 2024. The investment case has been approved by the Investment Review Commission.

Nikkei reported that TSMC has begun recruiting talents on a large scale, and it is expected to invest more than 600 people in the initial stage, including engineers and managers. This is the first time TSMC has set up a factory in the United States in 20 years. TSMC Chairman Liu Deyin said that the factory will be built in Arizona next year. In the initial stage, more than 300 employees and supervisors with experience in R&D and manufacturing 5-nanometer chips will be dispatched to the United States to assist in related factory construction and smooth operation.

In addition, TSMC will recruit 300 recent graduates and young engineers with one or two years of experience in the United States. The new employees will first go to the 5nm factory in Tainan for one year of intensive training.

Regarding TSMC's establishment of a plant in the United States, the industry previously reported that TSMC would send two senior executives, Lin Tinghuang, the director of the 15A plant in the Central Science Park, and Wu Yihuang, the senior director of the Technology Department, to the United States to be responsible for the construction of the plant. Recently, it was also reported that the head coach of the new 5-nanometer plant in the United States would be Zhang Zongsheng, the vice president of operations/advanced technology and mask engineering. However, TSMC did not comment on the industry rumors.

According to TSMC's official website, Zhang Zongsheng obtained a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree in electrical engineering from Tsinghua University. He is TSMC's deputy general manager of advanced technology and mask engineering. He joined TSMC in 1995 and served as a senior plant manager of Fab 12B. He has more than 20 years of practical experience in operating organizations and participated in the technology development and manufacturing of Fabs 1, 4, 8, 12 and 14. He is a key figure in successfully leading TSMC's advanced technologies into mass production.

Zhang Zongsheng was elected as a TSMC Fellow in 2013 in recognition of his achievements in innovation and engineering excellence. He also holds 52 patents worldwide, half of which are U.S. patents.