Trump administration to inject up to $150 million into chip laser startup xLight
The U.S. government aims to enhance chipmaking efficiency by up to 40% through a $150 million equity investment in Palo Alto startup xLight under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.
- The U.S. Department of Commerce CHIPS Research and Development Office signed Monday a nonbinding letter of intent to inject up to $150 million into xLight, using funds from the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.
- XLight plans to build particle-accelerator-powered free-electron lasers the size of a football field, targeting 2 nanometers as a new light source for extreme ultraviolet lithography.
- Nicholas Kelez leads xLight as CEO and Pat Gelsinger serves as executive chairman after raising $40 million from Playground Global this summer, with Commerce's award likely making the U.S. government the largest shareholder.
- Backed by federal funding, the move injects U.S. resources into a Dutch-dominated EUV industry and could challenge ASML's dominance, while critics question taxpayer-funded equity stakes amid the Trump administration's prior equity actions.
- The funding aims to produce first silicon wafers by 2028 and slot xLight's lasers into ASML machines, though industry analysts warn scaling to fab-ready units remains challenging.
34 Articles
34 Articles
US Invests $150M in Gelsinger’s xLight for Advanced EUV Chip Tech
The U.S. government’s decision to invest up to $150 million in xLight, a fledgling semiconductor startup chaired by former Intel Corp. Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger, marks a pivotal escalation in Washington’s efforts to reclaim dominance in advanced chip manufacturing. This move, announced amid intensifying competition with China, underscores a strategic shift toward nurturing innovative technologies that could redefine how the world’s most powe…
Monopoly No More? ASML May Suddenly Have a New Competitor
Quick Read ASML (ASML) controls over 90% of the EUV lithography market with machines costing up to $400M each. The Trump administration is investing up to $150M in xLight to develop rival laser technology that could cut ASML wafer processing costs by 30% to 40%. ASML expects 15% growth this year but faces uncertainty in 2026 amid declining China sales. Finding the best credit card just got a lot easier. We’ve assembled a list of cards with u…
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