As the new year approaches, Foundry Files takes a look back to reflect on the many wins and milestones celebrated by GlobalFoundries (GF) in 2024.
From shaping what’s essential, to partnering with customers, to pushing forward our semiconductor technologies and empowering our global team, 2024 was a year to remember.
CHIPS and Science Act
Following an announcement in February of an initial agreement, the U.S. Department of Commerce in November announced an award of up to $1.5 billion in direct funding to GF through the CHIPS and Science Act.
The funding will enable GF to expand its essential chip manufacturing and technology development in the U.S., with three major projects in New York and Vermont that will strengthen supply chains and support our customers across a range of vital end-markets including automotive, smart mobile devices, IoT, data centers, and aerospace and defense.
As GF CEO Dr. Thomas Caulfield said: “GF’s essential chips are at the core of U.S. economic, supply chain and national security. We greatly appreciate the support and funding from both the U.S. Government and the states of New York and Vermont, which we will use to ensure our customers have the American-made chips they need to succeed and win.”
Read more at CNBC, Reuters, or New York Times.
Strengthening the auto supply chain with Infineon
In early 2024, GF and Infineon Technologies announced of a long-term agreement for a supply of Infineon’s AURIX automotive microcontrollers as well as power management and connectivity chips. The collaboration spans two continents and provides Infineon with additional manufacturing for a more resilient auto supply chain.
The two companies have been partnering since 2013 on a range of chip technologies for auto, industrial and security applications. With the new agreement, GF secured Infineon as a key long-term customer across multiple geographies, and particularly in Europe where the automotive industry has been an important contributor to innovation and economic growth. The expanded collaboration underscores the criticality of a global manufacturing footprint that enables GF to partner with customers to meet their capacity needs, where they need it.
Driving innovation on the road, in space, and connecting us all
GF-made essential chips are at the forefront of space exploration. They’re enabling smarter and more connected devices, and helping to shape what’s essential in the auto industry. They’re also empowering our customers to create devices and technologies necessary for building a more resource-efficient and sustainable future.
Don’t miss these articles to learn more:
Shaping what’s essential
“We make chips that power the world,” says Amin Glass, an engineer at GF. This powerful statement is at the heart of the “We Shape What’s Essential” campaign launched by GF in 2024.
It starts with questions: What makes our world smarter, faster, safer and more connected? What lets you feel secure, whether you’re at home or on the move? The answer is clear: essential chips do.
That’s what our new campaign is all about. Showcasing GF’s role in bringing innovations to life, and partnering with customers to enabling how we live, work and connect, and celebrating GF employees who each play a role in shaping what’s essential.
Read more on our blog: “What Do We Mean When We Say ‘Essential’?”
22FDX— the star of GF’s new collaboration with NXP
Building on years of working together, GF and NXP announced a new collaboration to drive next-generation semiconductor solutions across a range of end markets including automotive, IoT and smart mobile devices. The collaboration leverages GF’s 22FDX process technology platform and global manufacturing footprint to optimize the power, performance and time-to-market of NXP’s solutions. GF’s 22FDX chips will be manufactured in Dresden and Malta, New York, providing NXP geographically diverse supply for their customers.
Purpose-built for intelligence at the edge, 22FDX optimizes energy management to deliver up to 50% higher performance and 70% less power used versus other planar CMOS technologies. The platform optimizes performance by dynamically adjusting to the lowest possible voltage, delivering ultra-low power consumption and high performance for the most demanding applications.
Celebrating our global team
At GF, we shape the world through our essential chips—from the solutions that enable the way we live today, to the technologies that drive what’s possible for tomorrow. Our people bring this power to life. A diverse and global team representing the best in the industry, we are united by our dedication to excellence and our desire to improve and empower the world.
In 2024, to help our ability to attract the best and brightest in the industry, our careers page received a fresh look. Check out gf.com/careers to join GF and shape what’s essential.
“AI Everywhere” at GTS
GF’s annual Technology Summit series in 2024 highlighted the critical role of GF-made essential chips in accelerating the impact and ubiquity of artificial intelligence. The theme of “AI Everywhere” was the connective tissue across three events, on three continents, which brought together industry leaders to share insights on the latest technology advancements and trends.
Together, the events were attended by more than 1,000 GF customers, partners, and collaborators, who heard the many ways in which GF technology platforms provide the flexibility, performance, power efficiency and reliability that are helping drive advancements in AI. Innovations on GF’s RF, silicon photonics and other technology platforms are paving the way to smarter, more connected and more efficient devices needed to unlock the full potential of edge AI computing and achieve “AI Everywhere.”
Developing tomorrow’s semiconductor workforce
GF is committed to cultivating a diverse and skilled semiconductor workforce, from inspiring young people to pursue education in STEM fields to ensuring GF employees are empowered to develop as professionals and leaders. GF announced several efforts in 2024 to support this commitment, including:
- Partnering with the U.S. National Science Foundation and Micron to invest in workforce development at Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), to help meet the growing workforce needs of the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.
- Joining the U.S. “Million Women in Construction” initiative to help increase representation of women and economically disadvantaged individuals in the construction workforce
- Establishing a new scholarship program at the University of Vermont’s College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
- Expanding collaboration with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute including new sponsorships and internship opportunities for students
- Sponsoring the 2024-25 FIRST LEGO League program in Vermont
- Supporting the new “Chip Kids” video series in partnership with
Collaborating with BAE Systems on essential chips for national security
In June, GF and BAE Systems announced a new collaboration to strengthen the supply of essential semiconductors for national security programs. With a focus on U.S. chip manufacturing and joint research and development for advanced chip technologies, the companies agreed to align technology roadmaps and collaborate on advancing domestic fabrication and packaging of secure chips for use in aerospace and defense systems.
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