Special Topic: The Semiconductor Gateway to Taiwan – Why It’s Critical for Semiconductor Innovation

One of the most forward-looking sessions at Semi Impact Forum 2025 featured Professor Konrad Young—former R&D Director at TSMC and current CEO of the College of Industry-Academia Innovation at NTUST—alongside Josh Liu, Co-Founder of Semi Ventures. Together, they explored how the UK and Taiwan can shape the future of semiconductor innovation through targeted collaboration.

The central concept introduced: a “Semiconductor Gateway” that directly connects UK firms to Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem.

1. Strategic Niches Where the UK Can Lead

Professor Young urged the UK to focus on sunrise industries—emerging sectors with strong growth potential—rather than attempting to enter mature, saturated markets. The UK’s proven capabilities in R&D, low-volume high-mix production, and biomedical tech provide ideal conditions for leadership in areas TSMC typically does not target.

Healthcare, defence, and quantum computing were identified as key sectors where the UK can lead with differentiated chip design.

Josh Liu reinforced this point by noting that many UK startups operate at the application edge of innovation and require custom silicon that cannot be fulfilled by mass-market fabs. This is where Taiwan’s foundries and design partners could provide vital support.

2. Lessons from Taiwan’s Semiconductor Ecosystem

Professor Young provided a candid breakdown of what has made Taiwan so effective. Institutions like NARLabs, ITRI, and TSRI played foundational roles—not through direct control, but by creating an enabling environment for industry growth.

Taiwan’s model also includes a dense network of IP providers, design service firms, and backend solution providers. Names like MICROIP, DEUV, and JMEMTEK may not be widely known in the West, but they are key players in enabling fast, flexible chip development.

Josh Liu emphasised that the UK does not need to replicate Taiwan’s scale, but it can adopt the model of tight integration between research, industry, and infrastructure. Building a mature ecosystem will require consistent engagement with Taiwanese firms, and the creation of local support structures that mirror this density.

3. The “Semiconductor Gateway” Initiative

The proposed Semiconductor Gateway is more than a concept—it’s a practical mechanism for reducing friction in UK–Taiwan collaboration.

It would:

• Connect UK startups and SMEs with Taiwanese IC design services.

• Offer guidance on supply chain navigation and foundry engagement.

• Create a structured entry point to Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem.

Both speakers underscored the importance of engaging early—well before prototype or production—so that design and manufacturing considerations are aligned from the outset. This reduces cost, risk, and time-to-market.

4. Founders, Talent, and Long-Term Vision

Drawing from his time at TSMC, Professor Young shared a personal story about Jensen Huang, the founder of NVIDIA. What mattered most, he said, wasn’t technical capability alone, but clarity of vision. The best founders, he argued, don’t just ask how to build—but what to build and why it matters.

He encouraged students and emerging talent to think in terms of market impact, not just technical mastery. Design is a skill, but leadership is what builds enduring innovation.