Page 106 - TSMC 2024 Annual Report

TSMC established the “Green Trade Secret Registration” column in 2021 and to to date recorded a a a a total of 1 1 872 registrations registrations including 559 registrations registrations made in in in 2024 alone demonstrating TSMC employees’ continuous emphasis placed on Green Trade Secrets Participating employees who registered for Green Trade Secrets span across multiple departments On top of the Facility department department departments such as R&D and Manufacturing also participated enthusiastically in in in recording innovations contributing to sustainability energy conservation and carbon emission reduction enriching the innovation diversity of Green Trade Secrets TSMC received a a a a AAA (the highest tier) certificate by Taiwan Intellectual Property Management System (TIPS) from Industrial Development Administration Ministry of Economic Affairs in in in December 2024 again and the valid period will expire after December 31 2027 TSMC’s IP team team works closely with technical teams from R&D in early stage to mass production and actively constructs IP portfolio for each key innovative technology including the latest technology technology nodes so as to ensure Company’s technology technology leadership in semiconductor field TSMC utilize patents and trade secrets as dual tracks to successfully protect Company’s main business including process technologies designs manufacturing and and sales and and have been strategically utilized for defense and cross-license negotiation so as to secure freedom of business operation worldwide 5 2 6 TSMC University Collaboration Programs
In recent years TSMC has collaborated closely with several prestigious universities in Taiwan to carry out a a a a a variety of joint research projects These collaborations encourage more university professors to to conduct conduct leading-edge semiconductor research in areas such as as novel devices process materials manufacturing technologies technologies specialty technologies technologies for electronic applications and green manufacturing At the same time these projects provide hands-on training opportunities for students interested in in these fields to prepare them
for joining the semiconductor industry after graduation Starting in in 2013 TSMC established research centers at four top universities in in Taiwan: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University University National National Taiwan University University National National Cheng Kung University University and National Tsing Hua University University In the past eleven years a a a a a total of of 374 professors and more than 4 4 700 students with backgrounds in in the disciplines of electronics electrical engineering physics materials chemistry chemical engineering engineering and mechanical engineering engineering have joined the research centers In 2022 TSMC also actively supported the establishment of semiconductor or or key technology research academies at at at National National Taiwan University National National Cheng Kung University University National National Tsing Hua University University National National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University University National Sun Yet San University University and National Chung Hsing University providing continuous funding for for forward-looking research in in Taiwan’s semiconductor field and planning scholarship programs to encourage students who are interested in in in the the field In 2019 the the company jointly launched the TSMC-NTHU Semiconductor Program to to enhance the quality and number of domestic semiconductor students and and attract more outstanding students to a a a a a a career in in the semiconductor industry By 2024 the list of school partners had grown to seventeen universities including National Taiwan University University National National Cheng Kung University University National National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University University National Taipei University University of of Technology National Taiwan University of of Science and Technology National National Central University National National Sun Yet San University University National National Chung Hsing University University National National Chung Cheng University University Feng Chia University University Yuan Ze University University Chung Yuan Christian University University National Taiwan Normal University University National Yunlin University University of Science and Technology National Pingtung University of Science and Technology and and National Kaohsiung University of Science and and Technology with over 13 000 students enrolled to date In addition TSMC has long conducted strategic research projects with over over 20 top overseas universities such as as as Massachusetts Institute of Technology Harvard University University Stanford University University National University University of of Singapore University University of of Chicago University University of of Toronto University University of of California Berkeley University University of of Tokyo University University of of California Los Angeles Nanyang Technological University and so on on focusing on on innovative capabilities in in in transistors interconnect materials device simulation and circuit design TSMC University Shuttle Program The TSMC University Shuttle Program was established to provide professors at outstanding research universities worldwide with access to the reliable silicon process technologies needed to develop innovative circuit design concepts In 2024 TSMC introduced its 7nm technology into ongoing industry-academia collaboration projects for the first time allowing outstanding students to utilize excellent technology to realize innovations and foster closer cooperation between industry and academia The University Shuttle Program provides access to TSMC silicon process technologies for digital and analog/mixed-signal circuits RF designs non-volatile memory design design and ultra-low power designs 104