Unofficial information to be taken with a grain of salt! The newspaper Maeil Business Newspaper (or MK) from South Korea has managed to confirm that Intel has approached Samsung to form an alliance between their respective foundry branches and thus boost their activities! Still according to the newspaper’s source, the CEO of Intel, Pat Gelsingerwould like to meet his counterpart at Samsung Electronics, Lee Jae-Yongto discuss “global collaboration in the foundry sector”. Unfortunately, no details have apparently been disclosed as to the nature and extent of this possible collaboration between the two giants of the semiconductornevertheless far behind number 1 TSMC. We can imagine that such a rapprochement could involve R&D, but also the sharing of certain technologies and why not, production facilities and other tips that could benefit both.
This would certainly be a very exciting development for the industry. Historically, this would not be a first. For example, Samsung Foundry and GlobalFoundries had collaborated in the past with some success on 14nm FinFET. However, another former alliance between IBM, Samsung and GlobalFoundries was not particularly successful. Finally, for a time and until a rather abrupt end, Intel also worked with Micron, via IMFT.
Technically, Samsung Foundry et Intel Foundry are competitors. However, both are at the same time also struggling outsiders (each in their own way) who are struggling to find customers and gain a foothold against TSMC. So what could be better than an alliance of two foundries in poverty and disadvantaged, but not without qualities or capabilities, to try to dethrone a stifling number 1? Between Intel’s strengths (such as its cutting-edge printers) and those of Samsung, there might indeed be a way to cook up something good, assuming effective collaboration and smooth execution, of course. Incidentally, let’s remember that Samsung aims to overtake TSMC by 2030, while a more realistic Intel would like to be number 2 by 2030… Wouldn’t this be precisely an avenue for agreement? ? Basically, a pair of broken arms will at least always have two hands to function…
Who knows, Pat Gelsinger has probably come to the conclusion that sometimes you have to come together in the face of adversity. The recent founding of the “x86 Advisory Fundation Group” with AMD is also a very good example of the association of two competitors to safeguard their main source of income. So why not do one, even temporarily, with Samsung to try to secure the future of their respective foundry divisions? Recently, Samsung had to apologize for the shortcomings (such as poor returns) of Samsung Foundry, and would have significantly reduced its investments in the process. On the other hand, Intel Foundry is burning through Intel’s cash, which, pushed into the red, has also had to lower its ambitions and finds itself forced to once again have to let go of ballast. Without forgetting the threat of possible predators.
In short, this really wouldn’t be the time to be choosy, both of them seem to have enough reasons and things in common to want to get closer. Now we’ll see if there’s any truth behind this information… Wait and see ! (Source : Wccftech, MK)
