Intel has affirmed its decision to hire former TSMC executive Lo Wei-jen, despite a lawsuit filed by the Taiwanese chip giant alleging he may have misused trade secrets. The US company said it has “no reason to believe” the allegations against Lo, emphasizing that talent mobility is a normal and healthy practice in the semiconductor industry.
In a statement to Nikkei Asia, Intel said, “Freedom to work, to apply our skills, and to move between companies has been a cornerstone of innovation in the semiconductor industry since the earliest days. Talent movement across companies is a common and healthy part of our industry, and this situation is no different.” The company also reaffirmed its focus on its mission and confidence in the integrity of its team.
TSMC filed legal action against Lo on Tuesday, claiming that he continued to request information from employees to gain insight into advanced technologies under development, despite being reassigned to an advisory role more than a year before his retirement. Lo had previously signed a non-compete agreement and indicated he would join an academic institution, but TSMC later discovered he had instead joined Intel.
Taiwanese prosecutors have launched an investigation into whether Lo’s departure from TSMC violated the national security law, which protects sensitive chipmaking data. Shortly after retiring, Lo assumed the role of executive vice president at Intel.
Intel is in the midst of revamping its manufacturing operations and expanding its foundry business, which produces chips for external clients. The company recently began production of its advanced 18A (1.8-nanometer) chips in Chandler, Arizona, a site located near TSMC’s $165 billion investment in new chip plants in north Phoenix. Intel hopes its advanced facilities will support its own products while attracting additional contract manufacturing customers.
Intel highlighted Lo’s long-standing experience with the company, noting that he spent 18 years at Intel before joining TSMC and contributed to wafer processing technology development. The company described him as “widely respected across the semiconductor industry for his integrity, leadership, and technical expertise.”
