How did Taiwan go from a largely agricultural, labour-intensive economy with little semiconductor expertise to becoming one of the most important centres of chip manufacturing in the world?
That is the remarkable story explored in A Chip Odyssey, the documentary directed by Hsiao Chu-Chen.
Made over five years and featuring more than 80 interviews with people who witnessed and helped shape Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, the film traces Taiwan’s extraordinary journey — from the pioneering engineers sent overseas to acquire vital skills and knowledge, to the development of a world-leading semiconductor industry and the emergence of TSMC, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
But A Chip Odyssey is about more than technology and economics. It is also a story about people, ambition, sacrifice and the transformation of Taiwan itself — and how the semiconductor industry became intertwined with Taiwan’s economic development, international position and security.
In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, I take you to Dublin’s Savoy Cinema, where A Chip Odyssey was screened as part of Culture Night 2026.
I spoke with Evan Furlong of the Dublin School of Mandarin Chinese, Richard Casey, CEO of Primesel, Senator Gerard Craughwell, and Mark and Aoife Kelly, co-founders of Celtonn.
They share their impressions of Taiwan, their thoughts on the island’s remarkable semiconductor industry, and what they took away from A Chip Odyssey.
Their perspectives provide a fascinating look at how Taiwan’s semiconductor story is understood from Ireland — from those involved in organising the screening, to people working in technology and business, and an Irish political perspective.
From the pioneering engineers of the 1970s to TSMC and today’s global semiconductor race, this is the story of how Taiwan became the Republic of Chips — and why that story matters far beyond Taiwan.
Perspectives with Neilo — going beyond the headlines to examine how history, foreign influence and competing narratives shape modern democracies.
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| Centre image courtesy of TSMC 2020 Business Overview |
DIVE DEEPER
- View A Chip Odyssey on YouTube - here
- A Chip Odyssey - official website
- The Human Story of Taiwan's Semi Success - Julia Bergstrom, Taiwan Business Topics (June 27th, 2025)
- Ministry of Culture (MOC) launches Taiwan Culture in Europe 2026 highlighting human rights and arts
Podcasts you might also like
- A Foggy Tale - Taiwanese Cinema Comes to Ireland (May 2026)
- Invisible Nation - Interview with Vanessa Hope (July 2024)
- The EU Chips Act: A Game-Changer for Semiconductors? Interview with Dr. Denis Doyle (September 2023)
