Despite recent advancements in 5nm chip technology, SMIC and HUAWEI face significant hurdles in mass production, particularly with older DUV machinery. To accelerate their efforts and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, HUAWEI has resorted to aggressive talent poaching, offering lucrative incentives to TSMC engineers.
What is HUAWEI’s deal?
TSMC employees frequently receive enticing job offers from HUAWEI-linked recruitment agencies, promising significantly higher salaries. However, accepting these offers comes with significant risks. Taiwanese talent is highly sought after in the semiconductor industry, and joining a Chinese company could severely damage future career prospects within Taiwan.
The Taiwanese government has been investigating these recruitment tactics, concerned about potential intellectual property theft and the erosion of the island’s technological edge. While HUAWEI’s aggressive approach may yield short-term gains, the long-term implications for both the company and the individuals involved remain uncertain.
