Jun Otani, executive vice president of Kumamoto University, highlighted the university's 268-year history during a Taiwan-Japan semiconductor supply chain talent forum. Following JASM's establishment of a fabrication plant in Kumamoto, the university has shifted its educational focus to keep pace with rapid changes in high technology.
Otani noted that Kumamoto University currently employs 1,008 professors with 11,000 students enrolled. However, according to forecasts by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), Japan will face a shortage of 43,000 semiconductor professionals over the next decade, with Kyushu alone accounting for a gap of 12,000 workers. To address this, Kumamoto University aims to increase female enrollment in semiconductor-related programs and enhance retraining opportunities for working professionals.
Given limited local talent, Kumamoto University is actively developing education programs focused on 3D IC technology, a necessary industry trend as IC linewidths approach physical limits.
To meet manpower demands from JASM's two fabs, Kumamoto University has initiated academic collaborations with Taiwanese institutions, including National Taiwan University (NTU), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), and National Taiwan Normal University. These partnerships aim to accelerate the cultivation of semiconductor talent at Kumamoto.
Additionally, since TSMC engineers primarily communicate in Mandarin, Kumamoto University has commissioned National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) in Kaohsiung to establish a Taiwanese Mandarin language center. This initiative seeks to facilitate Japanese semiconductor professionals' integration into TSMC's corporate culture.
Mizuho Bank analysts observe that currently, 90% of TSMC's chip manufacturing capacity remains in Taiwan. Even with new plants coming online in the US and Japan, over 80% of production capacity is expected to stay in Taiwan. Furthermore, Taiwan's government enforces a policy that restricts the latest technologies to remain within Taiwan, underscoring Taiwan's continued critical role in global advanced chip research and manufacturing.
Takehito Onishi, general manager of Mizuho Bank's Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung branches, explained that Japan promotes next-generation semiconductors through the Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC) and Rapidus initiatives; the US aims to become the world's third major chip manufacturing hub; China's chip industry and technology have shifted toward regional self-sufficiency due to US restrictions; and South Korea focuses on memory chips. Therefore, no country poses a threat to Taiwan's core position in the semiconductor industry in the foreseeable future.
Onishi added that driven by advanced applications such as artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous vehicles, demand for cutting-edge semiconductors will continue growing at an average annual rate of 10.8%, further solidifying Taiwan's leadership.
Article edited by Jack Wu
