Tokyo Electron fires worker suspected of stealing TSMC tech
The Japanese chip gear maker said in a statement it's cooperating with the ongoing investigation, though it remains unclear if any data had been shared with third parties.
Taiwan prosecutors arrested the six suspected of intellectual property theft at TSMC this week, including an individual that local media identified as a former Tokyo Electron staffer. The Japanese company is one of the largest suppliers of semiconductor-fabrication tools and gear to TSMC, which in turn uses the equipment to make Nvidia AI accelerators and Apple iPhone processors.
Investigators haven't disclosed many more details of the case, which coincides with a quickening race by the likes of Meta and DeepSeek to develop artificial intelligence in the post-ChatGPT era.
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Japan Times
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Japan's scientific and technological future is at a crossroads. After decades of economic stagnation, a record low birth rate of 1.15 children per woman in 2024 and the fastest-aging society globally — projected to shrink under 100 million within 20 to 30 years — the nation no longer has the number of homegrown researchers needed to compete on the world stage. The good news is the Japanese government has responded with a bold effort to rebuild the nation's scientific and technological competitiveness by recruiting world-class scientists, particularly from the United States. In June, the Cabinet Office launched J-RISE (Japan Research & Innovation for Scientific Excellence), a ¥100 billion ($677 million) package to attract global research talent. J-RISE is a major pillar of the government's broader University for International Research Excellence initiative, which supports top Japanese universities through the national ¥10 trillion University Fund. 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This economic disillusionment is fueling political extremes. In the recent Upper House election, the new conservative party, Sanseito, won 14 seats by channeling public frustration on immigration. Sanseito's platform, guided by a 'Japanese First' ideology, calls for further restricting land purchases by non-Japanese and tightening immigration laws — despite the nation's worsening labor shortage. It draws on populist tactics: Its leader, Sohei Kamiya, has explicitly emulated U.S. President Donald Trump's style to channel economic frustration and cultural fear into votes. Yet, according to a 2023 study by an independent think tank, Japan faces a projected shortage of more than 11 million workers by 2040, making foreign labor not optional, but essential. While Sanseito's messaging typically targets foreign land buyers and blue-collar workers, the atmosphere it fosters does not distinguish between different kinds of foreigners. Once xenophobia is normalized, it doesn't stop to distinguish between a factory trainee and a quantum physicist. A scientist considering relocation to Japan may not be the intended target — but the underlying message is loud and clear: 'You are not fully welcome here.' Japan faces serious demographic headwinds. A 2024 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report warns that if current fertility, employment and immigration trends continue, the population could shrink by 45% by 2100 and the labor force by over 50%. In response, public opinion is slowly evolving. A 2024 Asahi Shimbun poll found that 62% of respondents supported increasing foreign workers in labor-shortage sectors — up from 44% in 2018 — with stronger support among seniors. Yet acceptance doesn't always translate to inclusion. Studies from the OECD and other researchers show that many Japanese remain hesitant about immigrants settling permanently or living nearby, even when those immigrants are skilled professionals in essential fields like health care. Cultural and identity-based concerns still act as quiet barriers to true integration. And yet, Japan is entering a global competition to recruit world-class scientific talent — especially, as mentioned earlier, from the United States, where political volatility has shaken researchers' confidence. In response to the Trump administration's proposed severe cuts to U.S. science funding — including plans to slash the National Science Foundation by over 50% and the National Institutes of Health by roughly 40% — several countries, including Germany, France and the U.K., launched targeted initiatives to attract U.S.-based scientists. These efforts addressed growing concerns about unstable funding and politicization of research, offering fast-track visas, generous start-up grants and internationally oriented academic environments. Japan has attempted similar talent recruitment programs in the past, including the World Premier International Research Center Initiative and various Japan Society for the Promotion of Science fellowship programs. But these often fell short due to rigid institutional structures, lack of long-term career pathways, limited English-language support and persistent language barriers — all of which hindered integration for scientists and their families. J-RISE appears to be the most ambitious effort yet, but its success depends on whether Japan can create a truly welcoming research ecosystem. It arrives within the broader context of global competition. And while bold in its funding and goals, it must also confront the same core challenge other countries have faced: Can policy alone attract world-class scientists if the broader society signals ambivalence — or even resistance — toward foreigners? Science doesn't flourish in closed societies. It depends on openness to ideas, to people and to new ways of thinking. World-class scientists choose where to live and work based not just on salary or prestige, but on whether they and their families will feel safe, respected and welcome. Japan's leadership should be commended for its commitment to strengthening scientific excellence. But talent cannot be recruited with money alone. If Japan wants to lead in science and innovation, it must create an ecosystem that matches its ambitions — one that is not only globally competitive, but also socially inclusive. That means not only welcoming foreign scientists, but also fully engaging underrepresented domestic talent — especially women — who have long been overlooked and underutilized in Japan's science and innovation landscape. The stakes are high: Without a cultural shift, even the best-funded policies may fail to secure Japan's future. Yuko Kakazu, an astrophysicist, is a cohort member of the Mansfield Foundation's U.S.-Japan Network for the Future.
