TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation (VIS, 世界先進) announced on Wednesday (Jan. 28) a licensing agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台積電) to acquire TSMC's high-voltage and low-voltage Gallium nitride (GaN) process technology. The deal, disclosed in a press release, marks a significant advancement in VIS's technological capabilities and strategic positioning in Taiwan's semiconductor industry. VIS plans to begin mass production of the licensed technology in the first half of 2028 following validation on its 8-inch wafer platform.
VIS plans to expand its silicon-based GaN (GaN-on-Si) process to high-voltage applications through this licensing agreement, offering a comprehensive GaN-on-Si platform for customers. The company stated that integrating this new process with its existing GaN-on-QST platform will enable it to provide both silicon-based and new substrate power wafer manufacturing services. The expanded capabilities position VIS as a more competitive player in the growing compound semiconductor market, serving power-electronics applications.
Wei Chi-shih (尉濟時), general manager of VIS, emphasized that the licensing agreement reflects ongoing collaboration with TSMC and strengthens VIS's strategic position in the compound semiconductor field. Wei noted that the technology license will help VIS accelerate its efforts to meet the growing demand for high-efficiency power-conversion applications across multiple industries. The general manager stated that the partnership will push semiconductor power technology into a new era of efficiency and performance.
VIS is actively developing GaN process technology spanning 15V to 1200V to serve diverse power electronics applications with different voltage requirements. The company plans to validate this technology on its mature 8-inch wafer production platform, ensuring process stability and high yield rates for commercial manufacturing. Development activities began in early 2026, with mass production anticipated in the first half of 2028 as VIS seeks to capture growing market demand. ◼