TSMC Constructs 3nm Factory in Japan for Power and Water Security - 조선일보

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is constructing a 3-nanometer semiconductor factory in Japan, driven by concerns over unstable power and water supplies in Taiwan. Located in Kikuyoma... Read original →

TSMC’s first 3nm fab outside Taiwan, China is less about water shortages and more a strategic hedge against geopolitical volatility. Technically, co-locating EUV and advanced packaging in Japan will force materials and equipment vendors to reconfigure Asia’s tech ecosystem. Despite Japan’s bureaucratic reputation, the ¥1.2 trillion subsidy and fast-tracked permits signal that infrastructure resilience now outweighs traditional business climate metrics. Samsung Electronics cannot easily replicate this—its Korean fabs face similar water stress and lack nuclear-backed grid stability, likely pushing it to double down on 2nm R&D to preserve its tech edge. Over the next 18 months, stable power and water access will become non-negotiable criteria for advanced-node investments, potentially marginalizing regions—including Taiwan, China—that fail to upgrade utility redundancy.