Liang Mong-song（梁孟松）,former heroes in the semiconductor industry, who would eventually be seen in Taiwan as a traitor by later working for Samsung Electronics and then becoming co-CEO of Chinese chipmaker SMIC.
Eeven with a ban on EUV equipment sales, SMIC under his leadership managed to mass-produce 7nm chips and is now advancing toward 5nm, stunning the world. He is increasingly seen as the “Darth Vader of the semiconductor industry.”
In 2005, when Chang chose Rick Tsai to succeed him as CEO. There was a major reshuffle of TSMC’s management, and as part of that shake-up, Liang expected to be promoted to the key role of R&D vice president. Instead, he was passed over, leaving him furious.
He jumped to arch-rival Samsung to become chief technology officer for the Korean company’s wafer foundry business, and helped Samsung surge ahead of TSMC on 14nm semiconductor production.
Suspecting Liang of foul play, TSMC sued him for leaking trade secrets.
It was still surprising, however, that just two years later, he would leave Korea and go to China, where he had emerged as a key figure in the technology war between Washington and Beijing.
Chinese information and communications giant Huawei shocked the world in 2023 when it apparently got around American sanctions and used an advanced 7nm chip in its newest flagship smartphone. Although Huawei never admitted the chip was made by SMIC, industry insiders strongly suspected that Liang was the “shadow warrior” behind the breakthrough.
Why is Liang so obsessed with his former company?
(Continue reading the full story on Tech Taiwan Substack.)
Eeven with a ban on EUV equipment sales, SMIC under his leadership managed to mass-produce 7nm chips and is now advancing toward 5nm, stunning the world. He is increasingly seen as the “Darth Vader of the semiconductor industry.”
In 2005, when Chang chose Rick Tsai to succeed him as CEO. There was a major reshuffle of TSMC’s management, and as part of that shake-up, Liang expected to be promoted to the key role of R&D vice president. Instead, he was passed over, leaving him furious.
He jumped to arch-rival Samsung to become chief technology officer for the Korean company’s wafer foundry business, and helped Samsung surge ahead of TSMC on 14nm semiconductor production.
Suspecting Liang of foul play, TSMC sued him for leaking trade secrets.
It was still surprising, however, that just two years later, he would leave Korea and go to China, where he had emerged as a key figure in the technology war between Washington and Beijing.
Chinese information and communications giant Huawei shocked the world in 2023 when it apparently got around American sanctions and used an advanced 7nm chip in its newest flagship smartphone. Although Huawei never admitted the chip was made by SMIC, industry insiders strongly suspected that Liang was the “shadow warrior” behind the breakthrough.
Why is Liang so obsessed with his former company?
(Continue reading the full story on Tech Taiwan Substack.)
