When Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is prepping to roll out an all-new process technology, it usually builds a new fab to meet demand of its alpha customers and then either adds capacity by upgrading existing fabs or building another facility. With N2 (2nm-class), the company seems to be taking a slightly different approach as it is already constructing two N2-capable fabs and is awaiting for a government approval for the third one.

We are also preparing our N2 volume production starting in 2025," said Mark Liu, TSMC's outgoing chairman, at the company's earnings call with financial analysts and investors. "We plan to build multiple fabs or multiple phases of 2nm technologies in both Hsinchu and Kaohsiung science parks to support the strong structural demand from our customers. […] "In the Taichung Science Park, the government approval process is ongoing and is also on track."

TSMC is gearing up to construct two fabrication plants capable of producing N2 chips in Taiwan. The first fab is planned to be located near Baoshan in Hsinchu County, neighboring its R1 research and development center, which was specifically build to develop N2 technology and its successor. This facility is expected to commence high-volume manufacturing (HVM) of 2nm chips in the latter half of 2025. The second N2-capable fabrication plant by is to be located in the Kaohsiung Science Park, part of the Southern Taiwan Science Park near Kaohsiung. The initiation of HVM at this plant is projected to be slightly later, likely around 2026.

In addition, the foundry is working to get government approvals to build a yet another N2-capable fab in the Taichung Science Park. If the company starts to construct this facility in 2025, the fab could go online as soon as in 2027.

With three fabs capable of making chis using its 2nm process technologies, TSMC is poised to offer vast 2nm capacity for years to come.

TSMC expects to start HVM using its N2 process technology that uses gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet transistors around the second half of 2025. TSMC's 2nd generation 2nm-class process technology — N2P — will add backside power delivery. This technology will be used for mass production in 2026.

Source: TSMC

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  • Ptosio - Monday, January 22, 2024 - link

    If you put it that way, the Communist China is a breakaway province of the Republic of China rather than the other way around.

    But it doesn't want to conquer the mainland and force their ways onto it, while Beijing does, so it's quite clear who's the aggressor here.

    TSMC management is in a bit of impossible dilemma, because to ensure the survival of their company they threaten the survival of their nation.
  • PeachNCream - Monday, January 22, 2024 - link

    That's fair to assert. The United States is still the rightful property of the United Kingdom in your reasoning. However, we know that in US thinking, might makes right which is why mainland China really should be left alone to assert it's territorial claim over its wayward people.

    I haven't any idea why TSMC hasn't put more fabs in more places outside Taiwan though.
  • King1st - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link

    5 RMB has been added to your weabo account. You have done a service for your country. The CCP are the clear aggressors, It is their unwillingness to participate in the global economy fairly coming to bite them. Their growth was entirely because the US allowed them to trade while not being a proper capitalist, and now those times are ending since they refuse to participate fairly despite being the 2nd largest economy. The communist were dirty pigs in WW2 and Mao and his consequences have been a disaster for china and her people.
  • PeachNCream - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link

    I'm not even sure where to start with this. TSMC is more the matter here rather than what you are presenting as a pretty angry, revisionist perspective of history. If the western nations and Taiwan were willing to work together with China and not worry so much about what the internal governmental structure looks like elsewhere, there could be more free trade and lower costs for goods and services. China, for example, already makes some of the least expensive automobiles and has for quite some time, but western nations have prevented imports with a variety of legal and trade barriers to allow inferior locally made, fuel-inefficient vehicles to remain on their roads because of nothing more than fear of competition which, by they way, is rather oppositional to the idea of a free market.
  • SarahKerrigan - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link

    Taiwan has literally never been held by the PRC in the PRC's entire history as a state. Its government predates the PRC's existence by 37 years.
  • PeachNCream - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link

    That's not really relevant to the discussion. The people split away from the mainland and rather than be objectionable, leaning on other meddling nations motivated by greed for support, they could simply work mutually with the mainland to build synergies. People do better, greater things when they work together.
  • SarahKerrigan - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link

    The mainland rebelled against them - not the other way around.

    Sounds like the mainland's problem.
  • PeachNCream - Thursday, January 25, 2024 - link

    Agreed so much! It is a China matter to be resolved by the Chinese people. I wish others in the English-speaking world had a similar perspective and would leave them to settle that matter the way they believe would be best for their people. Outside interference just demonstrates the greed and self-centered thinking that prevails among Europe and the US.
  • Blastdoor - Thursday, March 14, 2024 - link

    The only "Chinese people" in a position to resolve anything are those living in democratic Taiwan, and they have chosen not to be a part of the PRC. The only "Chinese people" in the PRC who have any power to resolve anything are the autocrats at the top of the communist party.

    So yet another disingenuous BS post from you.
  • ABR - Friday, February 2, 2024 - link

    Right, and the US is a breakaway province of the United Kingdom as well, I suppose the Royal Navy should be teeing up?

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