Following its recent establishment of a wafer fab in Japan, TSMC aims to attract PhD talent in the region to advance its semiconductor research and development.
A Nikkei report notes that around 60% of TSMC's 28 senior executives, including founder Morris Chang, hold doctoral degrees, despite only 3.9% of TSMC's workforce having such qualifications. The company is actively prioritizing PhD recruitment to strengthen its research capabilities.
TSMC is particularly interested in hiring PhD holders in Japan who demonstrate commitment to intensive research. A senior TSMC executive highlighted Japanese employees' relatively low engagement levels but expressed optimism that PhD recruits would show greater dedication. This sentiment reflects broader observations in Japan that, following labor reforms in 2019, overtime work has become less common.
According to a TSMC employee, Japanese engineers often maintain strict work schedules, which surprised some Taiwanese staff who expected more extensive work hours.
In the race for semiconductor innovation, TSMC emphasizes round-the-clock research efforts. The company's commitment to intensive R&D from 2014 to 2016 enabled it to outpace competitors Samsung Electronics and Intel.
As the semiconductor industry evolves, PhD-level expertise is increasingly valued for its theoretical depth and problem-solving capabilities. TSMC has supported PhD students in Taiwan's semiconductor sector through scholarships, benefiting over 100 students by 2023 and collaborating with universities on exchange programs for undergraduate students.
Extending its talent development initiatives to Japan, TSMC's subsidiary JASM, located in Kyushu's Kumamoto Prefecture, has organized numerous university exchange activities, sharing expertise in chip research, manufacturing, and packaging technologies.
In March 2024, TSMC established an agreement with Kumamoto University to support semiconductor research and student development through scholarships, lectures, internships, joint research projects, and workshops.
By April 2024, TSMC had also partnered with Kyushu University, agreeing to provide research grants, mentorship, internships, and collaborative projects, reinforcing its commitment to talent cultivation and knowledge sharing in Japan.
