Because Taiwan’s story isn’t just about Taiwan. It’s about where enduring competitive advantage really comes from.
The story
Is this a story about chips?
Semiconductors became the most visible expression of that capability, but they were never the capability itself.
What is the wider lesson?
The sources of competitive advantage are often invisible until success makes them obvious.
The history
Why go back to the 1970s?
Taiwan wasn’t yet an economic success story. If anything, it was searching for its next chapter.
What came with the technology transfer?
What Taiwan acquired wasn’t just technology. It acquired the ability to learn.
Today
Do the new chip programmes matter?
Those investments matter. But Taiwan’s story suggests that factories alone are not enough.
Why did the foundry work?
The institutions existed. The talent pipeline was growing. The engineering culture was taking shape.
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