DEMO — development content for layout testing. Not real editorial reporting.
DEMO content for development and layout testing — not real editorial reporting.
Building advanced fabrication plants requires very large upfront investment and years of preparation, which favours firms with scale.
How it works
The industry has divided into designers, manufacturers, equipment makers and assemblers, each concentrated in a small number of locations.
Chipmaking combines huge fixed costs with rapid technological change, shaping an industry of specialised players.
What to watch
That specialisation is efficient but creates points of vulnerability, which is why governments now treat chips as a strategic sector.
Key concepts
- Semiconductors
- Supply chains
