The administration led by Donald Trump has asked TSMC to help rescue intel semiconductor factories. This is at least what media support almost always as well informed as Reuters either SCMP. If so, This initiative of the US government It changes everything. If the Trump administration did not agree with this strategy, its viability would be very small, but its support invites us to take this possibility very seriously.
According to these TSMC media, it is preparing a proposal that will present both Intel and the US government to take control of Integrated circuit production plants of this American company. However, this Taiwanese chips manufacturer does not want to face this solo challenge; He prefers to do it with other companies that presumably also interested in participating in the management of Intel factories.
According to the sources of ReutersTSMC managers are talking to their Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom and Qualcomm counterparts with the purpose of constituting a joint company that is responsible for plant management. TSMC would not have a participation in any case greater than 50% in this Joint Venture. At the moment there has been no official confirmation that supports these negotiations, but at the current situation this information is very credible. In any case, this plan will not come to fruition if it does not have the approval of the Donald Trump government.
Some Intel relevant employees want to keep control of factories
Ben Sell, Vice President of Intel Technology Development, confirmed At the end of last September that the 18A node already has the maturity necessary to enter large -scale production in 2025. and also assured that it will benefit from the resources that have been reallocated since the 20A node. In the current scenario the 18A node will be the true protagonist. In fact, and this is really important, Intel has confirmed which will receive a maximum of 3,000 million dollars within the framework of the ‘Chips and Science Act’ program to manufacture semiconductors for the US government in a reliable way.
Lithography 18a is the best opportunity that Intel has to resume direction and improve its competitiveness
The name of this plan, “Safe Enclave”, reflects one of the requirements required by the Administration: Chips must occur in the strictest confidentiality. And, as we can intuit, these integrated circuits They will be manufactured in the 18A node. This integration technology is definitely the best opportunity that Intel has to resume course and improve its competitiveness. In fact, voices are being raised within the company itself that demand a little patience to give this node the opportunity to place Intel on the path of recovery.
This statement by Joseph Bonetti, main manager of Intel engineering programs, expresses this vision very well: “Intel leaders, Board of Directors of Intel and Donald Trump administration, please do not sell or give the control of Intel Foundry to TSMC just when Intel is taking the technological front and starting to take off. It would be a terrible and demoralizing error.” Bonetti also maintains that Intel is not lagging for its competitors, and that the advances that their engineers are achieving in the field of chips production are very important.
At the current situation there is no doubt that the 18A integration technology is the best Intel asset to recover health, but it is important that we do not overlook that its technicians have been calibrating more than a year and adjusting their first teams of lithography of extreme ultraviolet (UVE) and haute opening manufactured by ASML. Intel has them in its Hillsboro (USA) plant. The first tests with this machine presumably They made them at the end of 2024and in 2025 the preliminary tests that pursue to manufacture integrated circuits in the 14A node will begin. It sounds exciting. We will follow the track to this machine very closely to keep you aware of all progress.
Image | Intel
More information | Reuters | SCMP
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