Taipei: During a May visit to a high-performance computing center operated by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in Bruy¨res-le-ChStel, south of Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron was photographed holding a sample of Rhea1. Developed by French semiconductor company SiPearl, the processor was manufactured in Taiwan by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).
According to Focus Taiwan, Macron's message, as recalled by SiPearl CEO Philippe Notton, was that Europe needed the processor-and that it came from Taiwan. Notton noted that such acknowledgement of a Taiwan-made chip for applications like nuclear simulations would have been politically unthinkable three years ago. However, it has now become part of the landscape as the U.S. seeks to reduce its reliance on Taiwan-based chip production.
The French model showcased at a Taipei event emphasizes retaining research, design, and other strategic capabilities within France while leveraging Taiwan's manufacturing prowess. Karen Yu, president of Taiwan's Innovation and Technology Investment Corporation, highlighted the complementarity in strengths and partnerships between the nations.
Aniah, a French electronic design automation startup, exemplifies this collaboration. The company maintains its core algorithms and research in France while utilizing its Taiwan operations to work closely with chip designers. Allen Chen, Aniah's director of application engineering, explained that feedback from Taiwan helps refine their core algorithms, enhancing product reliability.
Aniah plans to expand its Taiwan operation and is considering an initial public offering in Taiwan, contingent on achieving stable growth. Taiwan's influence on Aniah's business is significant, even though direct revenue remains modest, as many of its U.S. customers have teams or software users in Taiwan.
CEA-Leti's executive vice president, Michael Tchagaspanian, emphasized the trust-based partnerships between France and Taiwan. A notable example is a multiyear partnership with Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., focusing on developing technologies for next-generation AI systems.
The European Commission's proposed Chips Act 2.0 aims to bolster European semiconductor capabilities while fostering international cooperation. Notton expressed that Europe should focus on cultivating competitive products and demand before establishing additional fabrication plants. Meanwhile, using Taiwan's existing production capabilities allows products to reach the market sooner.
Despite cross-strait tensions, Aniah remains committed to expanding in Taiwan, recognizing that the island is central to semiconductor developments. Trust and the high-yield manufacturing expertise of Taiwan are seen as invaluable assets in the global semiconductor landscape.