Huawei is allegedly trying to poach engineers from TSMC by offering them salaries three times higher than their current compensation. This aggressive recruitment strategy appears to be part of Huawei's efforts to boost its chipmaking capabilities, especially given the challenges faced by Chinese firms in mass-producing advanced chips.
According to a report by Le Monde, TSMC engineers are frequently receiving recruitment emails, often disguised as inquiries from data analysis firms. These emails, reportedly originating from agencies linked to Huawei, invite engineers to consider new opportunities, highlighting their experience and skills.
While the financial incentives are substantial, joining Huawei presents significant risks for Taiwanese engineers. Accepting such an offer could effectively blacklist them from future employment at other Taiwanese companies.
This poaching tactic underscores the intense competition in the semiconductor industry and Huawei's determination to overcome challenges in chip production. However, the ethical implications and potential long-term consequences for the engineers involved remain a concern. It also raises questions about potential intellectual property transfer.
