TSMC to start construction of 3nm chip factory in 2020

TSMC will start building its factory in 2020 where 3nm chips will be produced. Earlier, the company said it wants to start production in 2022 at a factory suitable for making 5nm and 3nm chips.

According to Digitimes, TSMC chief executive Morris Chang announced plans to start construction at a company event. Chang says he is confident that the Taiwanese government will support the construction of the new plant with a “complete package of measures.”

Last month, TSMC announced construction on the Taiwan Science Park will take place, without providing any further details. At the end of 2016, TSMC first set out its plans for the construction of a factory where 5nm and 3nm chips can be made. This involves an investment of 500 billion Taiwanese dollars, currently about 14.3 billion euros.

TSMC is in a race with Samsung, Intel and Global Foundries to move to smaller nodes for chip production as soon as possible. TSMC plans to produce chips at 7nm next year, followed by 5nm production in 2019. To be able to produce chips on that scale, the company is using ASML’s EUV machines, at least for certain layers of chip production.