Early Life
Morris Chang was born in Ningbo, China, on July 10, 1931. He moved to the United States in 1949 and attended Harvard University before transferring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in mechanical engineering. He later received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1964.
Rise to Success
Chang began his career in the semiconductor industry in 1955 at Sylvania Semiconductor. He then joined Texas Instruments in 1958, where he spent 25 years, rising to the position of group vice president responsible for the company's worldwide semiconductor business. In 1984, Chang became the president and chief operating officer of General Instrument Corporation.
In 1985, he was recruited by the Taiwanese government to head the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). In 1987, Chang founded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which pioneered the pure-play foundry business model. Under his leadership, TSMC became the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry and a cornerstone of Taiwan's economy. He served as CEO of TSMC from 1987 to 2005 and as chairman until 2018.
Key Business Strategies
Chang pioneered the foundry model, allowing companies to focus on chip design without investing in manufacturing facilities. This strategy enabled the growth of numerous fabless semiconductor companies. He also focused on cutting-edge process technologies, leading TSMC to become the first to market with advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Philanthropy
Chang's wife, Sophie Chang, is the chairperson of the TSMC Charity Foundation, which participates in various non-profit initiatives in Taiwan. Specific details about the total amount of his philanthropy are unavailable in the provided sources.