Morris Chang
Encyclopedia
Morris Chang is the founding Chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSMC) in 1987. TSMC pioneered the "dedicated silicon foundry" industry and is the largest silicon foundry in the world. Morris is known as the father of Taiwan's chip industry.
Chang was born in Ningbo
, Zhejiang
province, China
. When he was younger, he had wanted to become a writer. However, his father, an official in the Ningbo county government, persuaded him otherwise. In 1948, as China was in the height of the Chinese Civil War
, Chang moved to Hong Kong
. The very next year he moved yet again to the United States
to attend Harvard University
. He transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and received his Bachelor of Science
and Master of Science
degrees in Mechanical Engineering from there in 1952 and 1953, respectively. After failing to obtain a Ph.D. from MIT, he sought to find a job and got into the Sylvania Semiconductor. Three years after he worked at Sylvania Semiconductor, he decided that the company wasn't enough for him. Chang moved to Texas Instruments
in 1958, which was then rapidly rising in its field. After three years in TI, he rose to be the manager of an engineering section. It was then, in 1961, that Texas Instruments decide to invest in him by giving him the opportunity for his Ph.D. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University
in 1964.
During his 25 year career (1958-1983) at Texas Instruments he rose in the ranks to become Group Vice President responsible for worldwide semiconductor business. He left Texas Instruments to become President and Chief Operating Officer of General Instrument Corporation (1984-1985).
Morris Chang worked on a four transistor project for TI where manufacturing was done by IBM. This was one of the early semiconductor foundry relationships. Also at TI, Morris pioneered the then controversial idea of pricing semiconductors ahead on the cost curve, sacrificing early profits to gain market share to achieve manufacturing yields that would result in greater long-term profits.
However, after he left General Instrument, the Republic of China
(Taiwan) government recruited him to become Chairman and President of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)
. As head of a government-sponsored non-profit, he was in charge of promoting industrial and technological development in Taiwan
. Chang founded TSMC in 1987, the beginning of the period where firms increasingly saw value in outsourcing their manufacturing capabilities to Asia. Soon, TSMC become one of the world's most profitable chip makers. Chang left ITRI in 1994 and became Chairman of Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
from 1994 to 2003 while continuing to serve as chairman of TSMC. In 2005, he handed TSMC's CEO position to Rick Tsai
.
As of June 2009, Chang has returned to the position of TSMC
's CEO once again.
Chang and his wife Sophie reside in Taiwan. His personal interests include classical music and bridge.
Chang was born in Ningbo
Ningbo
Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. When he was younger, he had wanted to become a writer. However, his father, an official in the Ningbo county government, persuaded him otherwise. In 1948, as China was in the height of the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
, Chang moved to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The very next year he moved yet again to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to attend Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
and received his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degrees in Mechanical Engineering from there in 1952 and 1953, respectively. After failing to obtain a Ph.D. from MIT, he sought to find a job and got into the Sylvania Semiconductor. Three years after he worked at Sylvania Semiconductor, he decided that the company wasn't enough for him. Chang moved to Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
in 1958, which was then rapidly rising in its field. After three years in TI, he rose to be the manager of an engineering section. It was then, in 1961, that Texas Instruments decide to invest in him by giving him the opportunity for his Ph.D. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1964.
During his 25 year career (1958-1983) at Texas Instruments he rose in the ranks to become Group Vice President responsible for worldwide semiconductor business. He left Texas Instruments to become President and Chief Operating Officer of General Instrument Corporation (1984-1985).
Morris Chang worked on a four transistor project for TI where manufacturing was done by IBM. This was one of the early semiconductor foundry relationships. Also at TI, Morris pioneered the then controversial idea of pricing semiconductors ahead on the cost curve, sacrificing early profits to gain market share to achieve manufacturing yields that would result in greater long-term profits.
However, after he left General Instrument, the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan) government recruited him to become Chairman and President of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)
Industrial Technology Research Institute
The Industrial Technology Research Institute is a non-profit research institute located in Taiwan under the supervision of the Republic of China Ministry of Economic Affairs. It conducts research and development in applied technologies to advance private sector growth...
. As head of a government-sponsored non-profit, he was in charge of promoting industrial and technological development in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Chang founded TSMC in 1987, the beginning of the period where firms increasingly saw value in outsourcing their manufacturing capabilities to Asia. Soon, TSMC become one of the world's most profitable chip makers. Chang left ITRI in 1994 and became Chairman of Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation is a specialized IC foundry service provider. It is founded in December 1994 in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan, by Morris Chang...
from 1994 to 2003 while continuing to serve as chairman of TSMC. In 2005, he handed TSMC's CEO position to Rick Tsai
Rick Tsai
Dr. Rick Tsai was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited in 2005, after serving as president and chief operating officer. Prior to his post as chief operations officer, he served as TSMC vice president of worldwide marketing and...
.
As of June 2009, Chang has returned to the position of TSMC
TSMC
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited or TSMC is the world's largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry, with its headquarters and main operations located in the Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan.-Overview:...
's CEO once again.
Chang and his wife Sophie reside in Taiwan. His personal interests include classical music and bridge.
Affiliations
- National Academy of EngineeringNational Academy of EngineeringThe National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
(U.S.A) - MIT Corporation, MIT's board of trustees
- NYSE, Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
advisory boards - Eisenhower Fellowship Trustees
- Goldman SachsGoldman SachsThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
former member - Office of the President of the Republic of ChinaPresident of the Republic of ChinaThe President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
advisor - Committee of 100Committee of 100 (United States)The Committee of 100 is a group of prominent Chinese Americans with the mission to "pool their strengths and experience to address important issues concerning the Chinese American community, as well as issues affecting Sino-American relations." It was founded in 1990.The declared key functions of...
Degrees
- 1952, "Bachelor of Science" MIT
- 1953, "Master of Science" MIT
- 1964, Electrical Engineering Ph.D. Stanford University
- 1997, National Chiao-Tung University honorary doctorate
- National Tsing Hua UniversityNational Tsing Hua UniversityNational Tsing Hua University is one of the most prestigious universities in Taiwan. The university has a strong reputation in the studies of science and engineering. Times Higher Education - World University Rankings is107in the world. Engineering and Science are the best in Taiwan...
honorary doctorate - National Central UniversityNational Central UniversityNational Central University is a national comprehensive university in Taiwan .National Central University was founded in 1915 and originated in 258 CE at Nanjing, China. After NCU in Nanjing was renamed Nanjing University in 1949, NCU was re-established in Taiwan in 1962...
honorary doctorate - Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteStephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
(U.S.A) honorary doctorate
Awards
- 1998, "Top 25 Managers of the Year" and "Stars of Asia" by Business Week.
- 1998, "One of The Most Significant Contributors in the 50 years of Semiconductor Industry" by BancAmerica Robertson Stephens.
- 2000, IEEE Robert N. Noyce MedalIEEE Robert N. Noyce MedalThe IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal is a science award presented by the IEEE for outstanding contributions to the microelectronics industry. It is given to individuals who have demonstrated contributions in multiple areas including technology development, business development, industry leadership,...
for Exceptional Contributions to Microelectronics Industry. - 2000, "Exemplary Leadership Award" from the Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA).
- 2005, "Top 10 Most Influential Leaders of the World" by Electronic BusinessElectronic businessElectronic business, commonly referred to as "eBusiness" or "e-business", or an internet business, may be defined as the application of information and communication technologies in support of all the activities of business...
. - 2008, "Semiconductor Industry Association's Robert N. Noyce Award"
- 2009, "EE Times Annual Creativity in Electronics Lifetime Achievement Award"
- 2011, IEEE Medal of HonorIEEE Medal of HonorThe IEEE Medal of Honor is the highest recognition of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers . It has been awarded since 1917, when its first recipient was Major Edwin H. Armstrong. It is given for an exceptional contribution or an extraordinary career in the IEEE fields of...
.