Taiwan's No. 2 chipmaker UMC eyes entering cutting-edge race

Company evaluates 6-nm partnerships to offset China pressure in older chips

Under growing pressure from Chinese chipmakers like SMIC, Taiwan's UMC is weighing a move into more advanced semiconductors. (Photo by UMC)

CHENG TING-FANG

June 30, 2025 15:31 JST

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's second-largest contract chipmaker, United Microelectronics Corp., (UMC) is assessing the feasibility of venturing into cutting-edge chip production, a segment dominated by TSMC, Samsung and Intel, Nikkei Asia has learned.

UMC is exploring future growth drivers, four people said, including potentially 6-nanometer chip production, which is suitable for making advanced connectivity chips for Wi-Fi, radio frequency and Bluetooth, AI accelerators for various applications and core processors for TVs and cars.