Chipmaker-for-hire TSMC has announced that it will skip the 22nm full node process and jump directly to the 20nm half node process.

The company will also have a 20nm CMOS process, but it will not offer an 18nm process. The 20nm process will feature high-k/metal gate  and new low resistance ultra-low-k interconnects.

TSMC's rivals have not made much noise about their post-28nm processes and it appears that TSMC will try to outpace its competition by skipping the 22nm full node. Globalfoundries is working on a 22nm CMOS process  and it claims it will be ready for production in 2H 2012. Intel is expected to go 22nm in Q4 2011.

TSMC claims the 20nm process is a much better choice than 22nm, as it offers better gate density and performance to cost ratio.

More here.