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> Do they license this out to fabs? Broadly speaking yes, this is the business model. IBM has been at this for many years with technology transfers, licensing
by topspin 3mo ago
> Do they license this out to fabs?
Broadly speaking yes, this is the business model. IBM has been at this for many years with technology transfers, licensing agreements, support and other arrangements. Rapidus, Samsung, GlobalFoundries, ST, SMIC, AMD, etc. have all used IBM R&D work at various times for various nodes and products.
The cutting edge of semiconductors is a writhing mass of copulating tapeworms, and IBM lives deep inside that ball. For IBM, what this means is that when you buy one of the ASML machines to make products with this process, you'll pay IBM for the knowledge and support to actually get it working, or give them a cut, or something else, TBD, as circumstances warrant.
- jcgrillo 3mo ago> a writhing mass of copulating tapeworms What a metaphor! I will file that one away for some glorious future opportunity.
- topspin 3mo agoCredit to Alan Cox. I filed it away after he wrote it in a LKML message many years ago.
- dboreham 3mo agoAh, thanks for that explanation. I was wondering how IBM could fund cutting edge research in semiconductors when they haven't been a semiconductor manufacturer for many years.