Intel and UMC forge partnership, revolutionizing the foundry landscape.

Intel Corp. and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) have announced a collaboration to develop a 12-nanometer semiconductor process platform. This partnership aims to target high-growth markets such as mobile, communication infrastructure, and networking. By combining Intel’s manufacturing capacity and UMC’s Foundry experience, the companies seek to expand their process portfolio and provide customers with a more diverse and resilient supply chain.

Stuart Pann, Intel’s senior vice president and general manager of Intel Foundry Services (IFS), emphasized the importance of collaborating with innovative companies in Taiwan to better serve global customers. This strategic collaboration with UMC demonstrates Intel’s commitment to delivering technology and manufacturing innovation across the semiconductor supply chain, aiming to become the world’s second-largest foundry by 2030.

UMC’s co-president, Jason Wang, highlighted the significance of this collaboration in advancing their strategy of cost-efficient capacity expansion and technology node advancement. The partnership will enable customers to smoothly transition to the 12 nm node while benefiting from an additional Western footprint. Wang expressed excitement about broadening UMC’s addressable market and accelerating their development roadmap through this collaboration.

The 12 nm node will leverage Intel’s high-volume manufacturing capacity in the United States and its expertise in FinFET transistor design. This combination of maturity, performance, and power efficiency is expected to deliver significant benefits. UMC’s decades of process leadership and experience in providing foundry services will further enhance the production process.

The development and manufacturing of the 12 nm process will take place at Intel’s Ocotillo Technology Fabrication site in Arizona, utilizing existing equipment in Fabs 12, 22, and 32. This approach will minimize upfront investment requirements and optimize resource utilization.

To meet customer demand, Intel and UMC will collaborate on design enablement, working with ecosystem partners to provide electronic design automation and intellectual properties solutions. Production of the 12 nm process is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Intel’s commitment to investment and innovation spans over 55 years, with manufacturing sites and investments worldwide. Intel Foundry Services has made significant progress, attracting new customers and expanding its foundry ecosystem. UMC, on the other hand, has a strong history of being a preferred supplier of foundry services to critical applications and has continued to lead innovation across mature nodes and specialty foundry services. With their combined expertise, the collaboration between Intel and UMC is poised to make a significant impact in the semiconductor industry.

Background Information

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About Intel:

Intel Corporation, a global technology leader, is for its semiconductor innovations that power computing and communication devices worldwide. As a pioneer in microprocessor technology, Intel has left an indelible mark on the evolution of computing with its processors that drive everything from PCs to data centers and beyond. With a history of advancements, Intel's relentless pursuit of innovation continues to shape the digital landscape, offering solutions that empower businesses and individuals to achieve new levels of productivity and connectivity.

  

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Technology Explained

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Foundry: A foundry is a dedicated manufacturing facility focused on producing semiconductor components like integrated circuits (ICs) for external clients. These foundries are pivotal in the semiconductor industry, providing diverse manufacturing processes and technologies to create chips based on designs from fabless semiconductor firms or other customers. This setup empowers companies to concentrate on innovative design without needing substantial investments in manufacturing infrastructure. Some well-known foundries include TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), Samsung Foundry, GlobalFoundries, and UMC (United Microelectronics Corporation).

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