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I should try and visit Taiwan soon. Seems to have become the center of the world suddenly. 🤔 Software eats world Software wants chips Chips want latest node Latest node only in Taiwan Taiwan eats world* *... though, the west still makes the *equipment* needed to run the fabs
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Taiwan-China is the new Israel-Arab countries. But unlike oil, semiconductors is almost entirely about IP, since raw material is sand. Good sand, but hardly as critical as oil. Kinda like aircraft. Many countries have learned to make airframes but jet engines are still hard.
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One needs some helium, but there are gas wells in Africa that could produce better soon. And refractory metals: lower metallization layers are W. But yes, mostly energy, human attention, & IP. Those EUV systems are driving a revolution in resist btw. And old nodes still matter.
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