Is the good old European taxpayer subsidising TSMC? This was asked at the IFS2010 meeting in
"The European share of the world semiconductor market is 13% and what we're doing today means it will probably represent 5% of the world market in 2014. Furthermore, the European share of world semiconductor production is 5%. So why is
Around half of that $1.8 billion comes out of public funds. So the European taxpayer is putting up $900 million a year to subsidise chip research.
"All of this research is World-Class-Plus", added
"We're subsidising TSMC", is Penn's answer, "CSR transferred a process to TSMC which had been developed under a European R&D programme. Another company transferred an automotive IC process to TSMC which was developed under a European programme."
This a reference to the deal between Infineon and TSMC which was agreed in November 2009 to extend the two companies' co-operation on embedded flash process development to automotive processes.
Penn bemoaned the fact that
"Where is the fab and end equipment follow through?" asked Penn, "
Subscribe to this blog's feed
Comments (4)
"CSR transferred a process to TSMC which had been developed under a European R&D programme."
Is this a reference to CSR, Plc, the Bluetooth company? Thanks.
Posted by SemiCurious | February 9, 2010 11:39 AM
Posted on February 9, 2010 11:39
The very same, SemiCurious
Posted by David Manners
|
February 9, 2010 11:42 AM
Posted on February 9, 2010 11:42
If Europe does not spend that money into R&D today, then eventually the Far East will have the capability in R&D comparable to Europe and the manufacturing will not be in Europe anyway.
Could this be a case of something or nothing? At least today, the engineers stay in Europe.
Posted by Outsider | February 9, 2010 11:50 AM
Posted on February 9, 2010 11:50
That's absolutely true, Outsider, and it would be terrible for Europe to throw this superb capability away. For instance, I beleive IMEC does the basic R&D for all the DRAM companies now. It would be tragic not to do it, but why Oh why, can't we establish a self-sustaining semiconductor industrial sector? Our Eurocrats seem to understand R&D, but they don't seem to have much of a clue about stimulating industry.
Posted by David Manners
|
February 9, 2010 11:59 AM
Posted on February 9, 2010 11:59