So where would a EU fab be located?
Most likely Germany. Specifically Dresden since it already has a significant fabrication industry so there's a good supply of local expertise.
TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
21–30 of 511 posts
Re: TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
#22I don't think EU cuts deals with specific companies. What would TMSC expect here? That EU gave them money straight up? I don't know how this would work, but maybe I am missing something. If anything, EU would create a generic fund to subsidize any such investment coming from any company interested, but at EU level, it would definitely take time. Or they can talk to individual countries about subsidies, just like they…
The USA (or states do), China does, even my little country of New Zealand does (our tax dollars fund Hollywood blockbusters). If the EU doesn't they are only going to miss out.
Problem is the EU is not as "united" as the above examples. Which country gets the fab (and reaps the benefit) if the EU provides subsidies (Paid for by all)?
Re: TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
#23I’m dismayed that Australia isn’t doing more to foster local fabs.
Their massive import/export taxes on anything related to technology basically kills any of those types of ideas, unfortunately.
Re: TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
#24You guys ever wonder why they don't choose California? These factories have huge environmental impacts that California is not okay with. These factories produce massive amounts of waste that cannot be recycled. This is also very likely to be the same exact reason as to why these talks didn't go so well in Europe. Arizona like Texas is more business friendly at the expense of not looking out for the well being of peop…
If Texas is so bad then why are so many Californians moving here? It's not because they were unemployed in California.
Re: TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
#25I don't think EU cuts deals with specific companies. What would TMSC expect here? That EU gave them money straight up? I don't know how this would work, but maybe I am missing something. If anything, EU would create a generic fund to subsidize any such investment coming from any company interested, but at EU level, it would definitely take time. Or they can talk to individual countries about subsidies, just like they…
The EU could recognize it as a strategic security issue to not have the most advanced chip fabs located in a geographical sphere of influence that is not always aligned with their interests. They would work with TSMC in particular because they're the most advanced.
The strategic side of things is slightly less of a concern for them if TSMC bring capacity online in the US since they're mostly on good terms, but it's still not great for one of the world's largest economies to not have this sort of capability inside its borders.
Re: TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
#26You guys ever wonder why they don't choose California? These factories have huge environmental impacts that California is not okay with. These factories produce massive amounts of waste that cannot be recycled. This is also very likely to be the same exact reason as to why these talks didn't go so well in Europe. Arizona like Texas is more business friendly at the expense of not looking out for the well being of peop…
I don't really like the euphemism of "business friendly" when it means "companies don't have to pay for their externalities." California is extremely entrepreneur-friendly, and have absolutely massive amounts of business compare to Arizona or Texas. The externalities are not minor either, there are 23 superfund sites in Santa Clara county from Silicon Valley's early years, where they did not bother to properly dispos…
>California is extremely entrepreneur-friendly, and have absolutely massive amounts of business compare to Arizona or Texas.
I don't know if you've been following the news lately of a bunch of companies moving OUT of California to Texas. One of these people is Elon Musk. And guess what? I have a source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez90rXhMWjE
I'm not saying California is wrong. Far from it. They're right. These laws are made to protect the people. Like you said, it's not minor at all. I never said it was minor.
However ANY state can decide that economic growth is more important than environmental safety and short term health of its' citizens and make a strategic move to make it's own location much more attractive to business.
So the costs aren't clear. Do we want an economic wasteland or an environmental wasteland? This is my point. California is not dead yet, but the trends have been pointing in this direction for years.
Re: TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
#27I’m dismayed that Australia isn’t doing more to foster local fabs.
We're too busy subsidising coal plants and taxing EVs, there's no way our Government would ever do something that's actually working towards a better future.
Re: TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
#28I've been thinking about what would happen if there's an actual military crisis between China and Taiwan. I wonder if the United States would allow (and aid with) unlimited immigration from Taiwan for educated specialists, in an attempt to capture/retain as much skills and knowledge as possible.
Re: TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
#29I've been thinking about what would happen if there's an actual military crisis between China and Taiwan. I wonder if the United States would allow (and aid with) unlimited immigration from Taiwan for educated specialists, in an attempt to capture/retain as much skills and knowledge as possible.
It has been done in the past, Taiwan is a special topic for the US, I don't know that they would let it get to that point without intervening either diplomatically or militarily.
Re: TSMC looks to double down on U.S. chip factories as talks in Europe falter
#30I've been thinking about what would happen if there's an actual military crisis between China and Taiwan. I wonder if the United States would allow (and aid with) unlimited immigration from Taiwan for educated specialists, in an attempt to capture/retain as much skills and knowledge as possible.
The US should invite Taiwan to become the 50-nth state. Perhaps several states, to give them more Senate votes.
Numerous polls of the Taiwanese show that they would want to join the US if given the choice between independent statehood, joining the mainland, and joining the US.
Plus, the US gets a nice permanent military base and gets to monitor all future Chinese submarine activity.
If China attacks a US state, it would be like Yamamoto's "sleeping giant" moment. The US is trying to force China's hand while there is power asymmetry, and I can't think of a better checkmate move.