UCLA Samueli School of Engineering launches $125 million semiconductor hub with top industry leaders May 21, 2026
GlobalFoundries launches Quantum Technology Solutions to scale U.S. quantum manufacturing May 21, 2026 Built on years of cryogenic innovation and deep partnerships with the world’s leading quantum innovators, anchored by industry demand MALTA, N.Y., May 21, 2026 — GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF) today launched Quantum Technology Solutions, a new quantum business to scale the manufacturing capabilities the quantum industry needs to achieve utility-scale quantum computing. The new business launches with customer engagements, and a pipeline of quantum innovators positioned to scale on its platform.With more than a decade of partnership with the U.S. Government and customers across critical semiconductor technologies, and sustained investment in cryogenic CMOS, advanced packaging and materials science, GF has built the industrial layer that quantum companies, the U.S. Government and allied innovators can build on. These capabilities mark GF’s entry into the next generation of high-performance computing (HPC). While the past decade of HPC has been defined by advanced-node CPUs, GPUs and AI ASICs, the next generation will be focused on enabling real-world quantum computing, and GF will manufacture the complete quantum hardware solution from quantum processor units (QPUs) to the cryogenic read-out and control ICs that operate them and the advanced packaging and superconducting interconnects that bind them into systems.The effort is anchored by quantum companies already engaged with GF’s manufacturing and by the U.S. Department of Commerce, a longstanding partner of GF across critical semiconductor technologies. The U.S. Department of Commerce and GF have entered into a letter of intent to award GF $375M to accelerate the build-out of Quantum Technology Solutions, reflecting the national-security importance of a domestic quantum manufacturing base.In a separate agreement, the U.S. Department of Commerce will receive a strategic equity investment in GF, representing approximately one percent ownership as of today’s date, enabling the American public to share in GF’s growth.“With today’s CHIPS Research and Development investments in quantum computing, the Trump administration is leading the world into a new era of American innovation,” said Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. “These strategic quantum technology investments will build on our domestic industry, creating thousands of high-paying American jobs while advancing American quantum capabilities.”“GF’s role as a semiconductor manufacturing engine is accelerating America’s technology leadership. Deepening our partnership with the United States Government will support a coordinated national push to expand domestic manufacturing, build supply-chain resilience and ensure that revolutionary technologies such as next-generation quantum systems are developed and manufactured in the U.S.,” said Tim Breen, CEO of GlobalFoundries.A manufacturing-led approach to quantum scale-upQuantum Technology Solutions will be able to leverage GF’s trusted U.S. manufacturing capabilities, with flexibility across its U.S. footprint, to support the foundational capabilities the quantum industry needs to scale.GF’s proven FDX™ platform delivers the cryogenic CMOS that provides the sensing, control and readout functions required for quantum systems. Building on that base, GF is developing the manufacturing platforms to build QPUs across multiple qubit modalities — including superconducting, trapped ion, photonic, topological and spin — along with the cryogenic and superconducting heterogeneous interconnect platform that integrates these components into utility-scale quantum systems.“Quantum is at its inflection point. The hardware is moving from lab-scale to industrial scale, and that transition can only happen inside an advanced semiconductor manufacturing environment,” said Gregg Bartlett, chief technology officer of GF. “The cryogenic CMOS, advanced packaging and 3D heterogeneous interconnect needed for utility-scale quantum computing are exactly what we make every day. Just as CPUs and GPUs underpin classical compute, GF is building the QPU, bringing these capabilities to the leaders across leading qubit modalities and positioning GF as the partner of choice for utility-scale quantum computing.”Supporting a broad ecosystem of customers and partners“Diraq’s work with GlobalFoundries on FDX™ has been central to advancing our cryogenic CMOS and silicon spin qubit technologies on an established manufacturing node. As GlobalFoundries invests in a U.S. quantum foundry, we see a clear path to expand that collaboration, accelerate the development of high-performance silicon-based quantum processors and scale within a secure domestic ecosystem,” said Andrew Dzurak, Founder and CEO at Diraq. “Equal1’s partnership with GlobalFoundries, and in particular our use of its FDX™ technology for cryogenic CMOS and spin qubit architectures, demonstrates how quantum and classical functions can be engineered together on an industrial semiconductor platform. A dedicated quantum foundry at GF will give us the manufacturing capabilities to advance our roadmap and bring our next wave of quantum systems closer to real-world deployment,” said Jason Lynch, CEO, Equal1. “Quantum computing promises to unlock solutions to otherwise impossible problems, and progress will depend on a strong manufacturing base in the United States. GlobalFoundries’ investment marks an important step to strengthen the U.S.-based manufacturing foundation for the quantum ecosystem,” said Charina Chou, COO, Google Quantum AI. “Microsoft is pleased to see GlobalFoundries investing in the quantum infrastructure the industry needs to scale, and in particular its support for topological qubits. A secure U.S. manufacturing base, capable of building across multiple qubit modalities, is essential to moving quantum from research milestones to practical computing, and we look forward to the acceleration in quantum capabilities with this initiative,” said Lauri Sainiemi, Corporate Vice President, Fabrication at Microsoft Quantum “Accelerating the path to useful quantum computing will require deep collaboration across a broad range of technological and infrastructural challenges — from advanced semiconductor manufacturing to the GPU-supercomputing that quantum processors must integrate with to run useful applications. GlobalFoundries’ commitment to scaling quantum is an important step for innovation in the quantum computing ecosystem,” said Timothy Costa, Vice President and General Manager for Computational Engineering and Quantum, NVIDIA. “PsiQuantum’s deep partnership with GlobalFoundries has been critical for our company’s approach to delivering utility-scale quantum computing. Together, our work and state-of-the-art results in photonics have shown what a U.S. semiconductor manufacturing partner can bring to the quantum industry. We’re pleased that GF will expand its investments, especially here in the United States, and we look forward to continued collaboration alongside one of our closest partners,” said Victor Peng, Interim Chief Executive Officer, PsiQuantum. “GlobalFoundries has become an important partner in our effort to scale ion trap quantum computing, combining cryogenic CMOS, integrated photonics and advanced packaging in a secure U.S. manufacturing environment. Expanding that partnership through a dedicated quantum foundry will help give us the domestic production base we need as we work to bring our next generation of commercial ion trap platforms to market with greater speed and confidence,” said Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President and CEO, Quantinuum. “Our long-standing collaboration with GlobalFoundries has shown existing technologies – like GF’s FDX™ platform – can support advanced cryogenic CMOS and spin qubit architectures on silicon. With the creation of a U.S. quantum foundry, we see an opportunity to deepen that work, move our designs into more advanced generations and accelerate the path toward scalable silicon-based quantum processors,” said James Palles-Dimmock, CEO, Quantum Motion. Chris Miller, professor at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and author of Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology, underscores that U.S. leadership in quantum computing will ultimately hinge on the ability to manufacture and scale quantum hardware domestically. “Quantum computing will be a defining technology of the next decade, and the countries that can manufacture quantum hardware at scale — not just design it — will hold a decisive advantage,” Miller said. “Establishing a dedicated U.S. quantum foundry is exactly the kind of investment we need to translate American research leadership into durable industrial capability, giving the broader quantum ecosystem a secure domestic base to build on.” About GFGlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors, enabling AI at scale from the cloud to the physical world. Through deep partnerships with customers, GF delivers differentiated, power efficient and high performance solutions for automotive, aerospace and defense, data center, smart mobile devices, internet of things and other high growth markets. With global manufacturing operations across the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted and holistic technology partner for customers around the world. GF’s talented, global team remains focused every day on security, longevity and sustainability. For more information, visit www.gf.com. © 2026 GlobalFoundries Inc. GF®, GlobalFoundries®, the GF logos and other GF marks are trademarks of GlobalFoundries Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes “forward-looking statements” that reflect our current expectations and views of future events. These forward-looking statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include but are not limited to, statements regarding our financial outlook, future guidance, product development, business strategy and plans, and market trends, opportunities and positioning. These statements are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates, forecasts, projections and limited information available at the time they are made. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall,” “outlook,” “on track” and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a broad variety of risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Any inaccuracy in our assumptions and estimates could affect the realization of the expectations or forecasts in these forward-looking statements. For example, our business could be impacted by geopolitical conditions such as the ongoing political and trade tensions with China and the continuation of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine; ongoing political developments in the United States, and in particular, any political and policy-related changes that may impact our industry and the market generally, such as the imposition of trade controls, tariffs and counter-tariffs between the United States and its trade partners and new legislation; the market for our products may develop or recover more slowly than expected or than it has in the past; we may fail to achieve the full benefits of our strategic optimization efforts; our operating results may fluctuate more than expected; there may be significant fluctuations in our results of operations and cash flows related to our revenue recognition or otherwise; a network or data security incident that allows unauthorized access to our network or data or our customers’ data could result in a system disruption, loss of data or damage our reputation; we could experience interruptions or performance problems associated with our technology, including a service outage; global economic conditions could deteriorate, including due to rising inflation and any potential recession; the expected benefits of our announced partnerships may fail to materialize; and we may fail to achieve the anticipated results or benefits from funding received (including awards under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and New York State Green CHIPS) and our expected results and planned or further expansions and operations may not proceed as planned if funding we expect to receive is delayed or withheld for any reason. It is not possible for us to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Moreover, we operate in a competitive and rapidly changing market, and new risks may emerge from time to time. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These statements are based on our historical performance and on our current plans, estimates and projections in light of information currently available to us, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances described in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we, nor any other person, assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of these statements. Recipients are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made and should not be construed as statements of fact. Except to the extent required by federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any information or any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, subsequent events or any other circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a discussion of potential risks and uncertainties, please refer to the risk factors and cautionary statements in our 2025 Annual Report on Form 20-F, current reports on Form 6-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of our SEC filings are available on our Investor Relations website, investors.gf.com, or from the SEC website, www.sec.gov. Media contactKenneth CraigGlobalFoundries[email protected]
Children’s Museum at Saratoga unveils “Fab Lab” exhibit bringing semiconductor manufacturing to life May 20, 2026
Building what comes next: Why startups need a manufacturing-first approach to innovation May 20, 2026 The defining challenge in advanced semiconductor innovation today is aligning breakthrough ideas with the realities of manufacturing as early as possible. As architecture becomes more interdisciplinary and system‑driven, early technical decisions increasingly shape what can ultimately be built, produced and sustained over time. When manufacturability, yield and system level integration are addressed late, options quickly narrow and iterating becomes expensive. This dynamic is reshaping how new hardware platforms are conceived and funded. Advances now span materials, packaging, devices and systems, extending the distance between research insight and manufacturable silicon while raising both technical and capital risk. Success in this environment depends less on proving that something works in principle and more on ensuring that foundational choices are made with scale and durability in mind. As a result, the next generation of category‑defining platforms is emerging from founders and investors who engage manufacturing realities early, think across the stack and commit to long-term collaboration. These shifts are expanding the role of startups within the foundry ecosystem, positioning them as central contributors to how the next era of computing is designed and industrialized. The hardware innovation cycle is different this time For decades, innovation in semiconductors was largely paced by transistor scaling. Today, differentiation increasingly occurs above the device level, through system architecture, integration strategy, packaging and the combination of diverse technologies on a single platform. As leading-edge CMOS advancement concentrates among fewer players, competitive advantage is shifting toward the ability to reliably orchestrate complex systems at scale. This evolution is driving a renewed wave of hardware startups. Innovation is increasingly defined not by individual technologies, but by how systems come together to serve distinct end markets. In data center infrastructure, startups are advancing silicon photonics, optical connectivity, GaN power and new compute approaches to scale performance and efficiency. In Physical AI, innovation is accelerating across sensing, compute and memory, including emerging memory and neuromorphic architectures. These are not linear transitions from research to deployment, but areas of intense innovation where integration and manufacturability will determine what ultimately scales.Foundries are no longer just endpoints for innovation. They are platform enablers. And startups that were once viewed as peripheral to manufacturing are now central to how the next generation of systems will be built and scaled. Where momentum is forming—and why durability matters For investors, startups and technology leaders, incremental gains no longer cut it. Platforms that not only survive but thrive are designed to scale from day one. The markets attracting sustained capital and attention are those where correctness, integration and manufacturability determine success, not how fast a first demo appears. These are long‑cycle bets with real technical risk, but they are also the domains where enduring value is created. What separates winners from stalled experiments is not ambition, but timing of hard decisions. In deep‑tech hardware, risk is rarely eliminated—it migrates. Too often, manufacturability, yield and system‑level constraints emerge only after capital has been deployed and architectures have hardened. At that point, learning becomes expensive. Late discovery drives redesigns, compresses schedules and erodes capital efficiency for both founders and investors. The advantage belongs to teams that confront these constraints early. Early alignment does not limit innovation. It expands by preserving optionality when trade‑offs are cheapest and most consequential. This is where the right partners become a structural advantage, transforming durability from a liability into a differentiator. How GF approaches startups GF approaches startups as long‑term partners, and in many cases, as the originators of future platforms that will shape the industry’s direction. Many of the most important technologies of the next decade will emerge outside established roadmaps. Engaging early allows those ideas to mature with manufacturing realities in mind rather than being retrofitted later. Our startup engagement model is intentionally flexible. In some cases, collaboration leads to acquisition when capabilities strengthen our core portfolio or accelerate entry into strategic markets. In others, we pursue licensing, direct investment, or deeper partnership to accelerate innovation, create long‑term demand for differentiated platforms and gain early insight into emerging architectures. Not every engagement looks the same, but each is intentional. This philosophy reflects a belief shared by successful founders and investors alike: in complex hardware markets, platforms matter more than products, and partnerships matter more than transactions. GF Labs and Accelerate: two pillars of startup engagement GF’s engagement with startups follows two complementary tracks, reflecting the different ways innovation enters the semiconductor ecosystem. Some startups build differentiated products using proven GF technology platforms—for example, developing architectures or applications on 22FDX. Others are advancing foundational physical sciences innovations, where the underlying technology itself is still maturing. As our research and development model, GF Labs combines internal R&D with a strong external ecosystem of startups, universities, research technology organizations (RTOs), equipment partners and EDA vendors to engage startups early in the maturity cycle of their technology. This early engagement helps ensure emerging innovations follow a clear path to high-volume manufacturing, “future-proofing” key decisions around materials, devices and integration before they become restraints, even when commercial pathways are not yet fully defined. GF Accelerate extends this model into capital. As our venture investment program, it aligns long-term capital with the engineering and manufacturing expertise required to turn breakthrough ideas into industrial-scale reality. Engaging early helps ensure startups are not only well-funded but building technologies that can scale—bridging the gap between what works in the lab and what can be manufactured at volume. Together, GF Labs and Accelerate give founders a path from earliest-stage research through capital formation and into manufacturable silicon. Building ecosystems deliberately No deep‑tech startup succeeds alone. The most effective innovation ecosystems intentionally connect research, manufacturing, capital and enablement. Many promising startups originate as university or consortium spin‑outs that are rich in technical insight but early in their exposure to manufacturing scale. Through GF Accelerate, we partner with experienced venture leaders rather than going it alone — participating as a limited partner across leading platforms in the U.S., Europe and Singapore. That ecosystem includes Silicon Catalyst and Socratic Partners, Cloudberry — Europe’s first dedicated semiconductor, photonics and advanced materials fund — and, most recently, Playground Global, whose Fund IV invests across compute, automation and life sciences. Each partnership deepens GF’s connection to founders tackling the foundational technologies behind AI data centers and Physical AI. These are not passive investments. They allow us to partner closely with founders and investors, support early‑stage companies and create tighter feedback loops between research, capital formation and manufacturing execution. Turning innovation into credible silicon For startups and their investors, the path to silicon is where risk concentrates and where partnership matters most. GF works directly with startups to help mature technologies and deliver key proof points, leveraging the broader ecosystem where appropriate and supporting the transition into manufacturing at the right stage. We provide access to critical resources including process design kits (PDKs), multi‑project wafer (MPW) programs, foundation IP, reference designs, infrastructure and direct engagement with GF technical experts. This approach helps startups de‑risk execution, accelerate learning and build confidence that breakthrough ideas can scale. Looking ahead The next era of computing will be defined not by incremental advances alone, but by foundational shifts in materials, architectures and system integration. Startups will play a central role in this disruption, particularly where challenges extend beyond the reach of any single organization. GF is committed to building alongside founders, investors and technology leaders who share a long-term view of value creation. If you are developing what comes next and looking for partners who understand both ambition and constraint, we believe the most enduring success stories are built together.
GlobalFoundries advances long-term technology innovation through investment in Playground Global May 19, 2026 GF deepens its engagement with the startup ecosystem, partnering with experienced technology leaders to support next wave of AI data center and Physical AI technologies MALTA, N.Y., – May 19, 2026 – GlobalFoundries (NASDAQ: GFS) (GF) today announced that it is investing in Playground Global’s Fund IV as a limited partner through GF Accelerate, formalizing GF’s expanding commitment to early-stage deep tech startups tackling the world’s hardest problems. This investment extends GF’s work with leading technology-focused venture platforms and reflects the company’s strategy of aligning long-term capital with real-world technology, engineering and manufacturing expertise.GF’s participation builds on its broader engagement with early-stage partners across regions, including collaborations designed to advance differentiated, manufacturing-ready technologies and ensure alignment with long-term industry needs. Through these relationships, GF helps founders connect early innovation with practical considerations such as manufacturability, scaling and integration into essential semiconductor technologies that underpin AI data center and emerging Physical AI technologies.Playground is an early-stage deep-tech venture firm that invests in companies developing foundational technologies across compute, automation, energy and life sciences, areas where long development timelines and technical complexity benefit from experienced, domain-aligned investors and operators.“Deep tech requires conviction, technical depth and long-term capital,” said Pat Gelsinger, General Partner at Playground Global. “To build world-changing technologies, you need partners who know how to help them scale. GlobalFoundries brings the manufacturing leadership required to move advanced technologies from prototype into production.”“Our engagement with Playground reflects GF’s commitment to supporting early-stage innovation in areas that will shape the future of critical technologies, including AI data infrastructure and emerging Physical AI systems,” said Tim Breen, CEO of GlobalFoundries. “We value working alongside experienced investors and industry peers who share a long-term view of technology development. This kind of collaboration – across operators, technologies and leaders who have helped define our industry – strengthens the ecosystem that supports the next generation of foundational technologies.”This announcement follows GF’s recent collaborations with Silicon Catalyst, Socratic Partners and Cloudberry, and reflects the continued expansion of GF Accelerate, the company’s venture investment program focused on early-stage semiconductor and deep‑tech innovation. Together, these initiatives reinforce GF’s strategic focus on supporting founders developing technologies aligned with long-term industry and manufacturing needs.About GF GlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors, enabling AI at scale from the cloud to the physical world. Through deep partnerships with customers, GF delivers differentiated, power-efficient and high-performance solutions for automotive, aerospace and defense, data center, smart mobile devices, internet of things and other high-growth markets. With global manufacturing operations across the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted and holistic technology partner for customers around the world. GF’s talented, global team remains focused every day on security, longevity and sustainability. For more information, visit www.gf.com.Forward-looking informationThis news release may contain forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. GF undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law. Contact:GlobalFoundriesKenneth Craig[email protected]
SCALINX Joins GlobalFoundries GlobalSolutions Ecosystem to Expand High-Speed Data Converter SoC Solutions May 7, 2026
GlobalFoundries accelerates adoption of co-packaged optics for advanced AI data centers with SCALE optical module solution May 4, 2026 SCALE CPO solution is the industry’s first OCI MSA capable platform and built with GF’s proven silicon photonics technology MALTA, N.Y., May 4, 2026 – GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF) today announced the introduction of its SCALE™ optical module solution for co-packaged optics (CPO). GF’s SCALE solution, or Silicon photonics Co-packaged Advanced Light Engine solution, is the industry’s first Optical Compute Interconnect Multi-Source Agreement (OCI MSA) capable platform, exceeding the requirements for the OCI MSA’s optical interconnect specification for modern AI scale-up architectures. Built with GF’s advanced silicon photonics technology, the SCALE CPO solution utilizes both coarse and dense wavelength-division multiplexing (CWDM, DWDM) for bi-directional data transmission over each optical fiber for significant improvements in bandwidth density and system scalability versus traditional copper interconnects. GF has already demonstrated 8λ and 16λ bi-directional DWDM natively on its platform, a fundamental technology milestone that uniquely positions GF to support the industry’s shift to CPO and accelerate the adoption of optical scale-up interconnects. GF’s SCALE CPO solution and silicon photonics technology offer an advanced portfolio of fully-qualified photonic devices, such as 50Gbps and 100Gbps micro-ring modulators, coupled ring resonators and integrated photodiodes. Additional features include through silicon vias (TSVs) for high-speed signaling and power delivery and copper pad pitches ranging from 110μm down to sub‑45μm for 2.5D/3D stacking from organic substrates to silicon interposers, enabling customers to move quickly from design to volume production. The platform integrates electrical ICs on single-digit advanced nodes, enabling optimization between best-in-class compute and state-of-the-art optics without compromising performance. While GF offers multiple fiber-attach approaches, the SCALE solution leverages broadband detachable fibers with flat insertion loss over the CWDM spectrum to future-proof scaling from 4λ in each direction to 8λ and beyond, while still enabling serviceability and known-good-die testability for next-generation AI interconnects. “With over a decade of innovation and manufacturing expertise in silicon photonics technology at our disposal, GF stands ready to unlock the future of high-bandwidth, energy-efficient connectivity with our SCALE solution for co-packaged optics,” said Mike Hogan, chief business officer at GF. “Today, our technology already exceeds the requirements set by the OCI MSA, demonstrating our close collaboration with industry leaders and our technology’s readiness to scale next-generation, AI infrastructure.” 关于 GF GlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors, enabling AI at scale from the cloud to the physical world. Through deep partnerships with customers, GF delivers differentiated, power‑efficient and high‑performance solutions for automotive, aerospace and defense, data center, smart mobile devices, internet of things and other high‑growth markets. With global manufacturing operations across the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted and holistic technology partner for customers around the world. GF’s talented, global team remains focused every day on security, longevity and sustainability. For more information, visit www.gf.com. 前瞻性信息 本新闻稿可能包含涉及风险和不确定性的前瞻性陈述。请读者注意不要过分依赖这些前瞻性陈述。这些前瞻性陈述仅针对截至本新闻稿发布之日的情况。除非法律要求，否则GF没有义务更新这些前瞻性声明，以反映本新闻稿发布日期之后的事件或情况，或反映实际结果。 Media Contact: Stephanie Gonzalez [email protected]
How GlobalFoundries’ “virtual fabs” are redefining semiconductor manufacturing May 1, 2026 Imagine a world where semiconductor manufacturing operations extend beyond the physical boundaries of the wafer fabrication plant (“fab”). A world where engineering support, data analytics and process optimization teams are seamlessly working 24/7 across time zones and locations, delivering speed and efficiency to customers. That’s the idea behind GlobalFoundries’ Global Fab Engineering Services (GFES), a “virtual fab” model built to complement our manufacturing footprint across the United States, Europe and Asia. Engineering support, data analysis and process optimization don’t stay in one place. They follow the work. GFES: Where did it start? The idea was simple: time zones are an asset if you use them right. GFES launched in 2015 with a manufacturing hub team in Bengaluru, India, initially focused on process integration and yield analytics. It worked. A second hub opened in Penang, Malaysia in 2023, expanding into manufacturing operations and process engineering. Manufacturing itself stayed in the fab. But the surrounding work, including analysis, troubleshooting and decision-making began to operate across locations. So did the talent pool. Engineers in India and Malaysia brought fresh perspectives and a comfort level with digital systems and distributed work that’s hard to build any other way. “You start to understand how decisions travel across sites,” said Dr. Jay Shah, Director of GFES India. “A problem shows up in one location, and you see how it gets picked up and resolved somewhere else entirely. That changes how you think about the work.” What it looks like day to day The practical reality is less dramatic than the concept sounds, which is kind of the point. Engineers qualify tools, classify defects, monitor statistical process controls and make wafer decisions remotely. Issues that might have waited for the next shift get resolved in real time. Wafers keep moving without unnecessary delays. As that rhythm sets in, decisions begin to happen faster. A question raised in Singapore at the end of the day has someone looking at it in India before the night is out. “We’re not just providing coverage,” said Yvonne Keil, Senior Director of GFES Operations. “When something comes up, we’re already solving for it, not catching up to it.” Over time, working this way builds consistency across regions. Shared standards develop, processes get automated, reinforcing a more unified way of operating across fabs while reducing variability. At the same time, it creates space to experiment. New digital manufacturing solutions can be tested, refined and then rolled out virtually across multiple sites, turning everyday operations into a continuous cycle of improvement. Setting a new benchmark in semiconductor manufacturing “Virtual fab” can sound abstract but in practice it is grounded in how efficiently work gets done. Manufacturing still happens inside fabs, wafers still move through tools yet the analysis, decisions and optimization now extends across multiple locations and time zones. When more of the analytical and decision-making work can happen anywhere, the scope of who participates in that work expands. Problems get solved faster, because fewer things are waiting. And the engineers doing that work, in Penang, in Bengaluru, across three continents, are building fluency in how global manufacturing actually operates, not just one corner of it. That might be the most durable thing GFES is building: not just faster operations but a whole new understanding of how talent, time zones and technology connect to deliver impact at scale.
GlobalFoundries’ Isabelle Ferain and Kylee Coffey honored with 2026 STEP Ahead Awards for manufacturing excellence April 28, 2026 Ferain named a Champion and Coffey named an Honoree by the Manufacturing Institute MALTA, N.Y. and BURLINGTON, Vt., April 28, 2026 — The Manufacturing Institute (MI), the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, honored two leaders from GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF) at its annual STEP Ahead Awards. Dr. Isabelle Ferain, vice president of product development engineering, based in Malta, was recognized as a 2026 Champion, and Kylee Coffey, senior director of integration, yield and controls engineering, based in Burlington, was recognized as a 2026 Honoree. The STEP Ahead Awards are a prestigious national program recognizing outstanding leaders in manufacturing who are driving impact from the shop floor to the C-suite. Isabelle Ferain – Champion The Champion category recognizes individuals who demonstrate allyship in action, actively supporting others by fostering supportive cultures, opening doors and modeling leadership that helps all talent to thrive. In just two years as global executive sponsor of GF’s GlobalWomen employee resource group (ERG), Ferain has supported growth and engagement across a global network of more than 2,100 employees, with ERG participation open to all employees. She also scaled the ERG from a chapter-level program to a coordinated network of eight chapters worldwide. She helped launch a six-month group mentoring program in partnership with GF’s Inclusion & Engagement team, served as an executive mentor in the pilot and worked with human resources to reform the company’s technical career ladder promotion process to improve transparency and standardization. Ferain is also a frequent voice for STEM on the national stage, from advocating for federal STEM R&D funding at the Science Technology Action Committee’s Capitol Hill Reception to delivering keynotes and panels at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), the Society of Women Engineers and IMEC. “Being named a STEP Ahead Champion is deeply meaningful to me, because allyship is not a title; it’s an action,” said Ferain. “In semiconductors, visible sponsorship and intentional support are essential to unlocking the full potential of our talent. I’m proud to work alongside so many leaders at GF who are committed to building inclusive cultures where everyone has the opportunity to grow, lead and succeed.” “Isabelle and Kylee exemplify the leadership, technical excellence and integrity that define GF,” said Hui Peng Koh, senior vice president and general manager, GF Malta. “Their impact extends far beyond operational results as they are shaping the future of manufacturing by mentoring leaders, advocating for STEM and creating pathways for the next generation. We are incredibly proud to see them recognized at the national level.” Kylee Coffey – Honoree The Honoree category recognizes established professionals who have made significant, sustained impact in their organization and across their community. Over her 24 years at GF, Coffey has built a career spanning critical leadership roles, including chief of staff, industrial, yield and integration engineering, and delivered major operational results. As the senior executive responsible for process integration and yield at GF’s Burlington facility, she leads a global team of more than 125 people providing around-the-clock support to the business. Her leadership of a cross-functional yield-improvement initiative drove line yields above 98% and generated approximately $5 million in annual cost savings. She also spearheaded manufacturing readiness for the site’s newest, most advanced technology offering, which now drives a significant portion of site revenue. Coffey is the executive sponsor of GlobalWomen in Burlington, now more than 260 members strong. She also leads recruitment and internship partnerships with her alma mater, the University of Vermont, and gives back to her community through FIRST® LEGO® League, youth soccer coaching and Habitat for Humanity. “This recognition is truly an honor, and it reflects the incredible teams, mentors and community who have shaped my journey over the past 24 years,” said Coffey. “The Burlington team’s passion, collaboration and commitment to excellence inspire me every day, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back, whether through mentoring, strengthening our workforce pipeline or supporting the community that supports us.” “I am thrilled to congratulate Kylee and Isabelle on their 2026 STEP Ahead Awards. They are exceptional leaders whose technical excellence is matched only by their commitment to lifting others up, whether that’s mentoring emerging talent, building stronger ERGs or engaging their communities in STEM. Isabelle and Kylee exemplify the very best of GF, and we are deeply grateful for everything they do for our teams, our customers and the broader manufacturing workforce,” said Ken McAvey, senior vice president and general manager, GF Burlington. About the STEP Ahead Awards The STEP Ahead Awards recognize outstanding leaders in manufacturing who are driving impact from the shop floor to the C-suite. These awardees serve as living proof of what’s possible in a manufacturing career. By celebrating their stories, we help reshape perceptions of the industry and showcase the wide array of talent that powers it. The 2026 gala honored industry leaders (“Champions” and “Honorees”) and rising stars (“Emerging Leaders”) nominated by their companies and recognized for their innovation, dedication, contributions and leadership. Honorees also participated in a multi-day leadership development conference in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to the evening gala. 关于GF GlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors, enabling AI at scale from the cloud to the physical world. Through deep partnerships with customers, GF delivers differentiated, power‑efficient and high‑performance solutions for automotive, aerospace and defense, data center, smart mobile devices, internet of things and other high‑growth markets. With global manufacturing operations across the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted and holistic technology partner for customers around the world. GF’s talented, global team remains focused every day on security, longevity and sustainability. For more information, visit www.gf.com. © 2026 GlobalFoundries Inc. GF®, GlobalFoundries®, the GF logos and other GF marks are trademarks of GlobalFoundries Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. About the Manufacturing Institute The Manufacturing Institute works to build and strengthen the manufacturing workforce for individual opportunity, community prosperity and a competitive manufacturing industry for the future. This is done through implementing groundbreaking initiatives, convening industry leaders, conducting innovative research and promoting public policy that supports the sector as it meets the opportunity of modern manufacturing. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions to address the toughest workforce issues. For more information on the MI, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org. Contacts: Julie Moynehan GF New York [email protected] Gina DeRossi GF Burlington [email protected]
