TSMC Scrapped 24-Hour "Night Owl" R&D Program After Six Months, Says Co-COO

TSMC Co-COO Y.P. Chyn told students that the company once ran round-the-clock R&D under a "Night Owl" program to catch rivals, but abandoned it within six months. He said R&D runs on brainpower and innovation, not longer hours.

• The "Night Owl" program lasted just six months before being declared a failure
• Chyn: R&D runs on brainpower, not labor
• The 40nm node was a turning point that led to TSMC's "One Team" culture
• One Team makes R&D and fabs jointly accountable for results