Intel Groups Up with UMC for 12nm Fab Node at IFS

Intel and UMC on Thursday mentioned they’d entered into an settlement to collectively to develop a 12 nm photolithography course of for high-growth markets corresponding to cellular, communication infrastructure, and networking. Beneath the phrases of the deal, the 2 corporations will co-design a 12 nm-class foundry node that Intel Foundry Providers (IFS) will use at its fabs in Arizona to supply quite a lot of chips.

The brand new 12 nm manufacturing course of will likely be developed in Arizona and utilized in Fabs 12, 22, and 32 at Intel’s Ocotillo Know-how Fabrication web site in Arizona. The 2 corporations will collectively work on the fabrication expertise itself, course of design package (PDK), digital design automation (EDA) instruments, and mental properties (IP) options from ecosystem companions to allow fast deployment of the node by clients as soon as the tech is manufacturing prepared in 2027.

Intel’s Fabs 12, 22, and 32 in Arizona are at present able to making chips on Intel’s 7nm-class, 10 nm, 14 nm, and 22 nm manufacturing processes. In order Intel rolls out its Intel 4, Intel 3, and Intel 20A/18A manufacturing at different websites and winds down manufacturing of Intel 7-based merchandise, these Arizona fabs will likely be freed to supply chips on quite a lot of legacy and low-cost nodes, together with the 12 nm fabrication course of co-developed by UMC and Intel.

Whereas Intel itself has quite a lot of highly-customized course of applied sciences for inner use to supply its personal CPUs and related merchandise, its IFS division primarily has solely three: Intel 16 for cost-conscientious clients designing cheap low-power merchandise (together with these with RF assist), Intel 3 for individuals who develop high-performance options but need to stick with acquainted FinFET transistors, and Intel 18A geared toward builders in search of for no-compromise efficiency and transistor density enabled by gate-all-around RibbonFET transistors and PowerVia bottom energy supply. To be a serious foundry participant, three course of applied sciences are usually not sufficient; IFS wants to handle as many purchasers as potential, and that is the place collaboration with UMC comes into play.

UMC already has a whole lot of shoppers who develop quite a lot of merchandise for automotive, shopper electronics, Web-of-Issues, smartphone, storage, and related verticals. These clients are fairly used to working with UMC, however the most effective expertise that the foundry has is its 14 nm-class 14FFC node. By co-designing a 12 nm-class course of expertise with Intel, UMC will be capable of handle clients who want one thing extra superior than its personal 14 nm node, however with out having to develop an all-new manufacturing course of itself and procuring superior fabs instruments. In the meantime, Intel positive factors clients for its totally depreciated (and presumably underutilized) fabs.

The collaboration on a 12 nm node extends the method expertise choices for each corporations. What stays to be seen is whether or not Intel’s personal 16 nm-class course of expertise will compete and/or overlap with the collectively developed 12 nm node. To keep away from this, we might count on UMC so as to add a few of its know-how to the brand new tech and make it simpler for patrons emigrate to this course of from its 28 nm-class and 14FFC choices, which ensures that the 12 nm node will likely be used for years to return.

Intel’s partnership with UMC comes on the heels of the corporate’s plan to build 65nm chips for Tower Semiconductor at its Fab 11X. Primarily, each collaborations enable Intel’s IFS to make use of its totally depreciated fabs, achieve relationship with fabless chip designers, and earn cash. In the meantime, its companions increase their capability and attain with out making heavy capital investments.

“Our collaboration with Intel on a U.S.-manufactured 12 nm course of with FinFET capabilities is a step ahead in advancing our technique of pursuing cost-efficient capability growth and expertise node development in persevering with our dedication to clients,” mentioned Jason Wang, UMC co-president. “This effort will allow our clients to easily migrate to this important new node, and likewise profit from the resiliency of an added Western footprint. We’re excited for this strategic collaboration with Intel, which broadens our addressable market and considerably accelerates our improvement roadmap leveraging the complementary strengths of each corporations.”