事关光刻技术，特朗普政府拟入股

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration has agreed to invest up to $150 million in xLight, a startup aiming to develop advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology, marking a strategic move to support domestic industries deemed critical [2][8]. Group 1: Company Overview - xLight is focused on improving the extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) process, which is essential for chip manufacturing. The company aims to enhance a critical component of this process, specifically the laser used to etch complex micro-patterns onto silicon wafers [3]. - The company is led by Nicholas Kelez, with Pat Gelsinger, former CEO of Intel, serving as the executive chairman after his departure from Intel due to financial struggles [3][6]. Group 2: Investment and Technology Development - The $150 million investment will help xLight build a large "free electron laser" powered by particle accelerators, which aims to create a more powerful and precise light source for chip manufacturing. Each machine will measure approximately 100 meters by 50 meters and will be deployed outside chip factories [6]. - xLight's goal is to produce its first silicon wafers by 2028, with the investment expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of wafer processing by up to 30% to 40% [6][7]. Group 3: Implications for the Semiconductor Industry - If successful, xLight's technology could redefine the economics of current EUV processes and empower future EUV advancements, potentially allowing semiconductor manufacturers to etch smaller line widths on silicon wafers [6][8]. - The development aligns with Moore's Law, which predicts that the number of transistors on a chip—and thus its computing power—should double approximately every two years [6]. Group 4: Government Strategy - The investment in xLight is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to directly invest in key industries, including semiconductors, critical minerals, and rare earth elements, through various financial mechanisms [8][9]. - Some analysts have criticized this approach as a form of state capitalism, arguing that it involves the government in selecting industry winners and losers [9].