To put into perspective: IIRC, one should set aside $5M for a mask set if planning to use advanced processes. Our multi-project wafers, from 130 to 22 nm, cost

To put into perspective: IIRC, one should set aside $5M for a mask set if planning to use advanced processes. Our multi-project wafers, from 130 to 22 nm, cost us ~€10k per mm². You have to multiply by the number of different circuits. Inkjet (or more generally fabless) allow you to get closer to individual unit costs right away for prototyping. I'm not sure everyone could buy one such printer (I haven't looked at the prices), but a billion-dollars fab sure isn't affordable. As an aside, IPs for integrated circuits are so expensive rightly because they generally have to be prototyped trough before being sold. I guess it's one of a few domains where engineering costs are quite low compared to fabrication costs.