Taiwan Semiconductor Film 'The Mountain Builders' Screened in Germany; ESMC President Says Taiwan's Can-Do Attitude is Worth Learning From

(CNA, Berlin, June 8) The film 'The Mountain Builders,' which documents the development of Taiwan's semiconductor industry, was screened in Dresden, Germany's semiconductor stronghold. After the screening, Christian Koitzsch, President of ESMC, said that the high-efficiency execution and inclusive, cooperative spirit shown by Taiwan are worth learning from for the German semiconductor industry.

The documentary on Taiwan's semiconductor history was screened in Dresden on June 6. The event was organized by the Dresden Taiwanese Student Association and co-organized by the Saxon-Taiwanese Association (STAGE). As Dresden is the location of TSMC's German plant, the event attracted over 230 people from industry, government, and academia.

According to a press release from the Taipei Representative Office in Germany, Representative Jhy-wey Shieh stated before the screening that Taiwan's key position in the global semiconductor industry is built not only on its technological strength but also on a foundation of shared values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.

Shieh pointed out that Taiwan possesses a complete and competitive semiconductor supply chain ecosystem. Amid the rapid growth in demand for artificial intelligence and advanced chips, Taiwan continues to be a vital hub for the global tech industry, providing a solid basis for deepening technological cooperation between Taiwan and Europe.

The post-screening panel was moderated by Shu-Jen Li, a Taiwanese professor at TU Dresden. Panelists included Steffen Rietzschel, Head of the Office for Economic Development in Dresden; Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden; and Christian Koitzsch, President of ESMC (European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), among other German semiconductor experts from industry, government, and academia.

After the screening, Koitzsch said that while German society and industry are still constrained by complex administrative procedures, he has observed in his cooperation with Taiwan that Taiwanese society exhibits a high degree of tolerance and pragmatism, able to act swiftly once a direction is set. Koitzsch said this can-do attitude is precisely what Germany, currently bound by bureaucracy, needs to learn most.

Staudinger explained that TU Dresden has established a close cooperative relationship with Taiwan in semiconductor research and talent cultivation in recent years, and its collaboration with TSMC has further enhanced TU Dresden's research capabilities and international visibility.

Josef Goldberger, Director of the State of Saxony's Taiwan Office, added that Saxony's program for German students to study semiconductors in Taiwan has so far involved about 300 young people. Through corporate internships and academic exchanges, it will cultivate more talent familiar with the semiconductor industry environments in both Taiwan and Germany.

Rietzschel, during the panel, appealed to the students and professionals present, emphasizing that Dresden combines a foundation in the tech industry with a high quality of life, making it a city that blends innovation and cultural depth. He expressed hope to attract more international semiconductor talent to work and live in Dresden.