About this publication
A supply chain is a network of suppliers, manufacturers, service providers, and distributors that connects the flow of raw materials, components, information, and goods from initial inputs to final products. In strategic industries, these networks often possess a transnational and multi-layered structure, spanning multiple countries and involving diverse technological and industrial capabilities.
The production of an advanced semiconductor is not confined to a single country or company. From raw materials and wafer fabrication equipment to lithography, chip design, manufacturing, and packaging, different stages of the production process are distributed across various locations worldwide. This global fragmentation has made the semiconductor supply chain one of the most complex and strategically significant technology supply networks.
Reducing supply chains to merely the physical movement of goods overlooks their broader strategic implications. The structure of a supply chain can influence costs, accessibility, vulnerabilities, and the bargaining power of different actors. In the context of strategic technologies, understanding supply chains is essential for identifying dependencies, critical bottlenecks, and geopolitical risks that shape technological competition and global economic security.