London Tech Week 2024: Former TSMC R&D Director Professor Konrad Young Emphasizes Importance of Global Collaboration

Global Semiconductor Market Shows Confidence for Recovery in 2024

As the global semiconductor market looks towards 2024, there is a growing sense of confidence in its overall recovery. With the stabilisation of end-product shipments and the increasing demand in markets such as automotive, high-performance computing (HPC), and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), experts are optimistic about the industry’s future. Taiwan, in particular, continues to lead the way in global semiconductor manufacturing, and the National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan is launching a five-year “Chip Innovation Project” to solidify the country’s position as a prominent international IC design hub.

The recent London Tech Week 2024, a European industry event held in June, further highlighted Taiwan’s role in the semiconductor industry. The Semi Impact Forum 2024, a semiconductor series forum organised by Taiwan’s National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) and the UK’s Semi Venture, garnered significant international attention. One of the forum’s highlights was the presence of Professor Konrad Young, a Berkeley Ph.D. graduate and one of Taiwan’s acclaimed “Six TSMC R&D Knights,” as a keynote speaker. With an impressive resume that includes significant roles at TSMC, SMIC, and Intel, Professor Young has recently transitioned from an Intel advisor to a visiting professor at National Taiwan University, where he focuses on developing young leaders and promoting sustainable education on the international stage.

During an exclusive interview, Professor Young shared his thoughts on the role of leaders in driving technological innovation and promoting sustainable development. “I have always believed that technological innovation is the key to driving social progress and economic development, and the role of leaders is crucial in this,” he stated. “Influential business leaders have the responsibility to lead by example, driving other companies to collectively promote sustainable development through their actions.”

Professor Young also reflected on his past experiences at TSMC and his personal mantra, the “failure resume.” He believes that treating failures as opportunities for growth has been a significant factor in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry’s success. “Just like Taiwan’s semiconductor capabilities, which have been built through continuous efforts, overcoming numerous failures and setbacks, eventually evolving and iterating to conduct the global symphony,” he added.

NARLabs: A Driving Force for International Semiconductor Development

The Semi Impact Forum 2024, organised by NARLabs and Semi Venture, showcased the achievements of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry to the world. In an exclusive interview, Professor Young highlighted the critical role NARLabs has played in the industry’s development. “NARLabs has been a vital driving force in Taiwan, empowering not only the industry but also integrating academic and research sectors,” he stated.

He further explained that while Taiwan’s semiconductor giants such as TSMC and UMC have already established a global reputation, smaller companies and startups often struggle to gain international recognition. In such cases, NARLabs provides a crucial platform for these companies to grow rapidly. “NARLabs focuses on collaboration with the academic and research communities, unlike the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which primarily supports Taiwan’s industrial sector,” Professor Young elaborated. “NARLabs significantly drives project progress through various collaborations in international academic, research, and industry spheres.”

Additionally, Professor Young emphasised NARLabs’ impact on international cooperation, citing the example of the Czech Republic. When the country needed to develop its semiconductor industry, NARLabs provided talent training, technical support, and even helped plan laboratories and establish incubation centres. Additionally, NARLabs has extensive experience in bringing overseas talent to Taiwan for training and conducting online training for participants from other countries, making it a crucial support system for startups with international capabilities.

“The incubation role of NARLabs is especially critical for supporting startups,” Professor Young emphasised. “By leveraging NARLabs’ resources and technology, these companies can turn their ideas into practical products and complete proof of concept (POC). With NARLabs’ early-stage support, these companies can smoothly transition to the venture capital stage and ultimately reach commercialisation.”

Professor Young’s Three Pillars of Leadership

During London Tech Week and the Semi Impact Forum 2024, Professor Konrad Young met with founders, CEOs, and other leaders from around the world. Known for his long-standing focus on leadership, he discussed the three essential pillars of leadership during his interview: “Independence,” “Trustworthiness,” and “High Productivity.”

“Independence” refers to a leader’s ability to think independently and solve problems. “A good leader must be able to make correct decisions independently without external help, requiring deep knowledge and extensive professional experience, even life experiences,” Professor Young explained. He further emphasised the importance of remaining calm in the face of difficulties and quickly finding solutions.

Secondly, “Trustworthiness” refers to a leader’s ability to build and maintain trust with team members and