Fanny Potkin, Milana Vinn, and Wen-Yee Lee of Reuters report that TSMC has proposed a joint venture with Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom, and Qualcomm to run Intel’s foundry division, with TSMC holding no more than 50%. The plan, aimed at reviving Intel, is in early talks and needs U.S. approval. Challenges include differences in manufacturing processes. They write:
TSMC has pitched U.S. chip designers Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and Broadcom about taking stakes in a joint venture that would operate Intel’s factories, according to four sources familiar with the matter.
Under the proposal, the Taiwanese chipmaking giant would run the operations of Intel’s foundry division, which makes chips adapted for the needs of customers, but it would not own more than 50%, the sources said. Qualcomm has also been pitched by TSMC, according to one of the sources and a separate source. […]
Reuters reported last week, citing sources, that Nvidia and Broadcom are running manufacturing tests with Intel, using the company’s most advanced production techniques, known as 18A. AMD is also evaluating whether Intel’s 18A manufacturing process is suitable for it.
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