The past few weeks the industry has been hit hard with the news that Intel, Samsung, TSMC, Global Foundries and IBM will all be putting money towards a consortium for collectively working on R&D for the use of 450mm wafers. While some in the industry remain skeptical that 450mm will ever happen, the amount being invested is significant. Enough to make sure that the industry knows these players are very serious.
There’s a tremendous difference in opinion in the estimates of the total amount of R&D required from the industry to move to 450mm wafers. Cost estimates of test wafers alone have ranged from $5B to $7B. Therefore, the amount currently committed should be viewed as a down-payment, though a very large one.
Reference: semimd, Group forms 450mm consortium
