If you've got a successful (i.e. working well) and fully utilized leading edge fab, it can be more profitable than printing bank notes. However it's so insanel

If you've got a successful (i.e. working well) and fully utilized leading edge fab, it can be more profitable than printing bank notes. However it's so insanely expensive to set up that type of chip manufacture the only way it is really viable now is to share the costs. Samsung, TSMC and Intel (and maybe GF) are the only groups left who can afford it (see http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1327060 http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1327060 ) and you have to keep up the r+d every year to stay competitive...