In Taiwan, which is facing a declining birthrate crisis, will semiconductors rely on "foreigners + robots" to survive?

According to the biweekly report of "Financial News", as of 2024, the number of newborns in Taiwan has shown negative growth for nine consecutive years. The declining number of children has caused talent cultivation to face the dilemma of "insufficient supply". In this regard, Chien Lifeng, former managing director of Google Taiwan and independent director of Appier, said on September 25 that when there are only a few hundred thousand people born every year, it will be difficult for Taiwan's semiconductor industry to maintain the world's number one. In the future, Taiwan will have to rely on two kinds of people to save Taiwan, "One is foreigners, and the other is robots."

Jian Lifeng attended the "2025 Guoding Talent Summit Forum" on September 25 and delivered a keynote speech. He emphasized that in the past, when Taiwan had more than 400,000 newborns, most of the elites went abroad for further study after graduating from college. However, Taiwan currently has only over 100,000 births each year. Most of the elites do not necessarily wait until they graduate from college to go abroad, but "go abroad at all ages." Therefore, it is no longer possible to maintain the economy by "only educating Taiwanese."

In the context of the increasingly serious problem of child population, it is difficult to obtain enough talents even for advantageous industries. Chien Lifeng admitted that if there is insufficient talent, it will be difficult for Taiwan to maintain its number one position in the semiconductor world. "Therefore, it is inevitable for TSMC to become the TSMC of the world."

Those who gain talents gain the world; those who lose talents lose the world

As for the solution, Jian Lifeng pointed out that hiring foreigners is an option. If foreign talents are still insufficient or unwilling to come to Taiwan, artificial intelligence (AI) can only be used to improve productivity. Assuming that AI can increase productivity by 30%, it may alleviate the problem of talent shortage. If AI can extend the life of the elderly, it can last for a while longer.

Wang Boyuan, honorary chairman of Zhonglei Electronics and chairman of the Li Guoding Science and Technology Development Foundation, shared his feelings about watching the documentary "Mountain Builders - The Bet of the Century" during his speech, "Where is the next mountain (in Taiwan)? Who is the next mountain builder?"

Wang Boyuan said that many industries in Taiwan are facing the problem of insufficient talents. Whether it is an industry or a country, "those who gain talents gain the world, and those who lose talents lose the world."

Tong Zixian, the introductor of the forum and Chairman of Pegatron, believes that the lack of talent may not necessarily be viewed from a negative perspective, because the lack of talent means that the economy is good and all walks of life are in urgent need of talent. If the unemployment rate is high, the issue of talent shortage will not be discussed.

However, Tong Zixian agrees that insufficient talent is indeed an obstacle to economic and social development. In terms of economic development, talent, regulations, and energy are all important conditions; in terms of social development, culture should be valued.

Planting parasol trees everywhere attracts phoenixes. A high-quality environment is the inducement.

"Finance News" biweekly pointed out that Tong Zixian advocated that since the birth rate is not high, Taiwan should "plant plane trees all over and attract phoenixes." Chu talents can be promoted, but a good environment must be created first to attract high-quality talents. Take Hollywood and Silicon Valley in the United States as an example. Many talents come from other countries. Without these talents, Hollywood and Silicon Valley may not be as prosperous.

"Huang Jen-Hsun is from Taiwan, and Ang Lee is also from Taiwan. Without Taiwanese talents, Silicon Valley and Hollywood would lose a lot of their luster," Tong Zixian said.

Taiwan’s technology industry is also a melting pot of talents. Tong Zixian mentioned that TSMC founder Zhang Zhongmou, Quanta Chairman Lin Baili, and Tsinghua University School of Semiconductor Research Dean Lin Benjian were not born in Taiwan, but they all made great contributions to Taiwan's technology.

Tong Zixian emphasized that in order to attract talents, Taiwanese society must change its culture. As long as the mind is enlarged and the atmosphere is harmonious, talents will be willing to stay in Taiwan.

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