Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says a forgotten 1950s European alliance secretly secured Taiwans chip empire decades later, an island hardly bigger than Maryland dominates 90% of the advanced chip market

Date:
Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Description:
Jensen Huang traces Taiwans semiconductor rise to foreign partnerships, industrial planning, opportunities in computer manufacturing, and decades of investment and engineering.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Philips helped Taiwan begin its decades-long technology transformation Li Kwoh-ting pursued foreign expertise to build Taiwan's domestic electronics industry TSMC manufactures advanced chips, while ASML builds equipment used in production Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has recently discussed how Taiwans semiconductor leadership emerged through decades of industrial partnerships, government planning and manufacturing expertise.

During a recent conversation with Lex Fridman, Huang discussed how European technology relationships helped establish capabilities that later supported Taiwans electronics industry. The island now manufactures more than 90% of
the worlds most advanced semiconductors, giving its relatively small
territory enormous importance to global technology supply chains. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Philips helped establish Taiwans electronics foundations The story dates back to the 1950s, when Taiwanese economic planner Li Kwoh-ting pursued foreign partnerships to develop
domestic manufacturing technology.

His efforts included attracting Dutch electronics manufacturer Philips, whose involvement helped introduce industrial knowledge and production capabilities into Taiwans developing electronics sector. You may like Taiwan is cracking down on tech companies hiding their illegal Chinese ownership Global memory shortage forces top PC makers like HP and Asus to turn to CXMT chips 'We just don't see that there's enough technical people in the pipeline': US chip fabs are facing a huge worker shortfall despite promise of huge paychecks, industry says it still needs over 150,000 workers

Philips subsequently became part of the historical background behind
companies that helped shape semiconductor manufacturing and equipment development.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) eventually became central
to advanced chip production, while Dutch equipment supplier ASML emerged as a leading manufacturer of lithography systems. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me
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These businesses occupy different positions within semiconductor supply chains, with TSMC fabricating integrated circuits and ASML supplying
machinery used during chip production.

Their historical connections to Philips help explain how international industrial relationships contributed to Taiwans technological development.

However, their subsequent success involved different corporate histories, investments and technological advances rather than one partnership
determining the industrys eventual direction. What to read next 8 wild quotes from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's latest interview on AI and why they should concern you China declares it is now the leading global chipmaking power US export controls actually helped China iron out tech supply chain 'chokepoints', report finds

Taiwans manufacturing capabilities developed through sustained industrial expansion, foreign relationships and growing demand for increasingly sophisticated electronic components. Computer manufacturing created another opportunity for Taiwan Taiwans electronics industry continued expanding as international demand for personal computers created new opportunities for component suppliers.

IBM helped accelerate this development when it published specifications for its personal computer architecture, enabling other manufacturers to build compatible machines and supporting components.

Taiwanese businesses capitalised on the growing market by designing chipsets and supplying computer components to manufacturers.

TSMC and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) subsequently became important semiconductor manufacturers, although their expansion involved distinct strategies and developments across the industry.

The growth of compatible personal computers also created opportunities for motherboard suppliers serving companies assembling and selling complete systems.

Michael Dell , who founded his computer business during this period,
initially built machines using commercially available components, including parts sourced through international supply chains.

Taiwanese suppliers formed part of that developing network, although Dells eventual success also depended on his direct sales approach and business operations.

IBMs influence therefore represents a separate stage in Taiwans industrial development, rather than a direct consequence of Philips earlier involvement.

Huangs account connects foreign investment, manufacturing expertise and changing market opportunities to explain Taiwans rise within the
semiconductor industry.

Its current leadership, however, rests on decades of further investment, engineering advances and specialised production capabilities.

The islands concentration of advanced chip manufacturing has become particularly significant as AI increases demand for sophisticated processors
.

Governments and technology companies are consequently seeking reliable supplies, while Taiwans manufacturing expertise remains difficult to
reproduce quickly elsewhere.

Via Charles Xiong on X Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/nvidias-jensen-huang-says-a-forgotten-1950s-euro pean-alliance-secretly-secured-taiwans-chip-empire-decades-later-an-island-har dly-bigger-than-maryland-dominates-90-of-the-advanced-chip-market


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