美国投资了一家EUV光刻机公司
半导体芯闻·2025-12-02 10:18

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration has agreed to invest up to $150 million in xLight, a startup focused on developing advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology, as part of its efforts to support strategically important domestic industries [1][2]. Group 1: Investment and Government Support - The U.S. Department of Commerce will provide incentives to xLight, which is working on improving the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology critical for chip manufacturing [1][2]. - This investment utilizes funds from the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, marking the first allocation from this act during Trump's second term [2]. - The agreement is still preliminary and subject to change, indicating that final terms have not yet been established [2]. Group 2: Technology and Innovation - xLight aims to build large "free electron lasers" powered by particle accelerators to provide more powerful and precise light sources for chip manufacturing [2][3]. - The company’s technology could potentially improve wafer processing efficiency by 30% to 40% and reduce energy consumption compared to current light sources [3]. - If successful, xLight's advancements could significantly enhance the economic viability of existing EUV lithography technology and lay the groundwork for future developments in the field [4]. Group 3: Leadership and Vision - Pat Gelsinger, former CEO of Intel, is now the executive chairman of xLight and views this venture as a significant opportunity to revive his career [1][3]. - Gelsinger has expressed a commitment to "awaken" Moore's Law, which predicts that the number of transistors on a chip will double approximately every two years [3]. - The startup has raised $40 million from investors, including Playground Global, where Gelsinger is a general partner [3].