Hands-on Experience with Chip Technology
Wearing full white protective suits and face masks, a group of students gathered around a guide in a high-tech lab. They were introduced to advanced silver machines used in semiconductor manufacturing. From etching to lithography, the students saw firsthand the technology driving this vital industry. These students were among 80 participants in a four-day summer camp hosted by Synopsys, a US-based chip design company. The Taiwan semiconductor camps aim to spark interest in Taiwan’s booming semiconductor sector.
Seventeen-year-old Caroline Chueh, who lives in Singapore, described the event as a rare and valuable experience. “Being Taiwanese, I think it’s important to understand semiconductors since they’re a big part of our economy,” she said.
Addressing Taiwan’s Shrinking Talent Pool
In recent years, semiconductor firms and Taiwanese universities have increased such initiatives. Their goal is to tackle a pressing issue: a declining youth population and fewer STEM graduates. This talent shortage threatens Taiwan’s leadership in the global semiconductor supply chain.
“There’s an urgent need for science and engineering education to start early,” said the chairman of Synopsys Taiwan.
Reflecting growing concerns, the 2024 camps began targeting a broader group of students. For the first time, Synopsys ran an English-language version, attracting participants from eight countries including the US and Singapore.
Taiwan’s Role in the Global Chip Industry
With a population of around 23 million, Taiwan holds a key position in the global chip market. It is home to major firms such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), MediaTek, and UMC. TSMC alone increased its global workforce by 63 percent between 2019 and 2024, reaching over 83,000 employees.
Despite this growth, Taiwan’s annual births dropped from over 210,000 in 2014 to just 135,000 in 2024. The number of STEM university graduates also fell, from nearly 98,000 to about 83,000 over the same period.
The pressure to find skilled workers is growing. Companies like Nvidia are expanding their presence in Taiwan to be closer to the supply chain. Yet, the available local talent is not keeping pace.
“There are too many semiconductor firms wanting to expand, both locally and from abroad,” said Professor Chen Kuan-neng from Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. “Traditional engineering programmes are not producing enough graduates to meet the demand.”
Job openings in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry have surged from 19,401 in mid-2020 to 33,725 in 2025, according to local recruitment firm 104 Corporation.
A Glimpse Into the Future for Students
For the young participants, the Taiwan semiconductor camps offer a direct path into a promising career.
“I learned so much,” said Jin, another student. “It opened my eyes to the many innovations Taiwan has brought to the semiconductor world. This experience brought me closer to my dream.”
with inputs from Reuters
