ELECTRONIC NEWS HIGHLIGHT W14.2025

1. TSMC in talks with NVIDIA, AMD, Broadcom to operate Intel’s foundry

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is in talks with NVIDIA, AMD and Broadcom to form a joint venture to manage Intel’s foundry business. Under the proposal, TSMC would oversee the operation but would not hold more than a 50% stake.

The discussions are still in the early stages, and any deal would require U.S. government approval to ensure Intel’s foundry unit is not under complete foreign control. Sources said the U.S. government sees the potential partnership as a way to revive Intel and bolster domestic semiconductor production.

TSMC began exploring the partnership even before it announced plans to invest $100 billion on March 3, including building five new chip factories over the coming years. At Intel, board members supported the deal, but some executives were strongly opposed and refused to split off the chip design and foundry divisions for sale.

TSMC also invited Qualcomm to join the joint venture, but the company withdrew from the discussions. Meanwhile, NVIDIA and Broadcom are conducting trials on Intel’s advanced 18A (1.8nm) process, with AMD also evaluating the feasibility of the process. However, Intel 18A has been a major sticking point in the negotiations. During talks in February, Intel executives reportedly told TSMC that their 18A process was superior to TSMC’s 2nm technology.

Intel is facing a number of challenges, with its stock price plunging more than 50% over the past year and reporting a net loss of $18.8 billion in 2024 — its first loss since 1986. The company’s foundry unit holds $108 billion in assets, but whether the venture can turn things around remains uncertain.

Learn more: TSMC in talks with NVIDIA, AMD, Broadcom to operate Intel’s foundry

2. Global Semiconductor Supplier Rankings 2024: ASML Leads, NAURA Rises to Sixth

According to CINNO Research, the top ten global semiconductor suppliers are expected to generate more than $110 billion in revenue by 2024, reflecting an annual growth rate of around 10%. The rankings remain largely unchanged, with the top five companies maintaining their dominance.

ASML continues to lead the global semiconductor equipment market, with revenues of over $30 billion, cementing its position as the leader in EUV lithography. Applied Materials is second with revenues of around $25 billion, while Lam Research, Tokyo Electron (TEL) and KLA secure the third through fifth positions. Together, these five companies generate nearly $90 billion, accounting for 85% of the total revenue among the top ten suppliers.

Notably, China’s NAURA Technology rose to sixth place in 2024, becoming the only Chinese semiconductor equipment maker in the top 10. The company’s semiconductor equipment revenue is expected to increase by 39.4% in 2024, driven by advances in etching, thin-film deposition, and cleaning equipment.

The remaining companies in the top 10 are Screen, Advantest, ASM, and Disco, ranked seventh through tenth, respectively.

Despite increasing global competition and strict US export controls on semiconductor technology and equipment, Chinese semiconductor equipment companies continue to consolidate their market position. Companies such as AMEC, Hwatsing and ACM Research have made significant advances in the fields of etching and cleaning equipment, gradually asserting their position in the global market.

Learn more: Global Semiconductor Supplier Rankings 2024: ASML Leads, NAURA Rises to Sixth

3. Singapore to invest S$500 million in national semiconductor research and manufacturing facility

Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will invest about S$500 million to expand the country’s semiconductor research and manufacturing facilities at the Singapore Semiconductor Technology and Innovation Centre (NSTIC), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Heng Swee Keat announced on March 6. The facility is expected to be operational by 2027, strengthening Singapore’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain.

The government is driving economic growth by strengthening global supply chain connectivity, fostering innovation, improving the business environment and developing a skilled workforce. By the end of 2025, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) will launch the Global Founders Programme (GFP) to attract experienced entrepreneurs, further strengthening the country’s semiconductor and technology ecosystem.