On Tuesday, October 22, representatives from Ritsumeikan University and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) visited Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) at the Hsinchu Science Park in Taiwan. The delegation included Professor Kentaro Kaneko, Director of the Research Institute for Semiconductor Applications (RISA) and RARA Fellow, Professor Tsutomu Araki, Deputy Director of RISA and Professor in the College of Science and Engineering, Professor Masato Miyake of the OIC Research Organization, and Professor Masanori Fujita of the College of International Management at APU.

TSMC, based in Taiwan, is the world’s largest semiconductor foundry. Pioneering the pure-play foundry model, TSMC manufactures semiconductor products on behalf of design-only companies. Renowned for its cutting-edge process technology, TSMC leads the industry with advanced manufacturing at nodes such as 7nm, 5nm, and 3nm. Its technology plays a critical role in high-performance semiconductors used in smartphones, automotive applications, and AI, supporting major companies like Apple and NVIDIA.

During the visit, the delegation toured the TSMC Museum and introduced Ritsumeikan University and RISA’s initiatives to TSMC’s HR team. They also discussed TSMC’s workforce development efforts and exchanged views on semiconductor talent cultivation in Taiwan and Japan.

It was confirmed that both sides would continue to exchange information, with future opportunities for TSMC to visit Ritsumeikan University and APU and for Ritsumeikan students to participate in TSMC’s internship programs, fostering a variety of collaborative efforts.