This study utilized Bibliometric analysis method and conducts co-word analysis and keyword cluster analysis via Citespace V, by collecting literature data of semiconductor clusters from Web of Science database between 1994 to 2024. Though the review of extensive and relevant literature, this paper comprehensively revisited and commented on the location distribution, organizational structure, enterprise pattern, influencing mechanism and cluster network of semiconductor clusters in typical countries / regions worldwide. Of particular concern was the semiconductor cluster pathways of U.S., Japan, South Korea, China's Taiwan and Singapore. The paper concludes that: ① California School focuses more on the geographic agglomeration and highly localized network of small and medium-sized startups and spin-offs in Silicon Valley, comparatively, New industry cluster School puts more emphasis on the hierarchical organization of large vertically integrated semiconductor manufacturers in the U.S. and Japan, where it forms three cluster types: pure agglomeration, industrial complex and social network. ② As for divergent pathways, plenty of small-sized and specialized local companies reach ascendancy in China's Taiwan semiconductor, supporting power of government role, i.e., public sector, government research institution and science-base industrial park. Whereas semiconductor of Japan and South Korea pay more attention to the private sector, led by a few large diversified and dramatically monopolistic Zaibatsu / Chaebol. House System and Integrated Devices manufacturing dominate the semiconductor market while small medium-sized enterprises are relatively under-developed. Singapore establishes export-oriented semiconductor clusters through the technological leverage as the influx of multinationals locally. Moreover, the paper critically suggests big picture and the long arc of the future in China's semiconductor cluster, with a turning focus on semiconductors clusters in different value production segments, inter-cluster linkages from global value chain perspective, as well as the reconfiguration of semiconductor clusters in the context of latest geopolitical challenges and U.S.-China rivalry.
