Abstract
Semiconductor supply chains are long, technical, and exposed to shocks. When one link falters, downstream industries feel it fast, as the recent global semiconductor shortage made clear. Firms face shortages, export controls, natural hazards, and abrupt demand swings, often at the same time. Our new study on China’s listed chipmakers offers a clear message for boards and operations leaders: firms that continually refresh their view of supply risks tend to score higher on ESG. The uplift is stronger when the board is more gender-diverse. It becomes more complex when artificial intelligence (AI) is deeply embedded in day-to-day decisions, echoing broader evidence that resilience depends on the interaction of risk routines, governance, and digital capabilities rather than on any single tool.