Intel and the Department of Defense have signed an agreement to support a national commercial chip-building environment. The first phase of the Rapid Assured Microelectronics Commercial (RAMPC) program will be led by the chipmaker. It aims to strengthen the domestic semiconductor supply chain.
The program will be led by the Intel Foundry Services division, which was recently established by chipmakers.
In RAMP-C, Intel and Cadence will work together with Synopsys, Synopsys, Synopsys, IBM, Cadence, Synopsys, and other partners to create a national commercial foundry ecosystem. Intel claims the program is designed to produce custom integrated circuits as well as commercial products for the Department of Defenses.
Randhir Thakur (president of Intel Foundry Services), stated that the RAMP-C program will allow both commercial foundry customers as well as the Department of Defense to benefit from Intel's substantial investments in cutting-edge process technologies. We will work with our customers, as well as ecosystem partners such as Synopsys, Cadence, Synopsys, and other companies, to strengthen the semiconductor supply chain in the country and maintain the United States' leadership in R&D, advanced manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing.
Intel announced recently that it will invest approximately $20 billion in Arizona to build two new factories. This is to help it become a major supplier for domestic foundry customers. According to the company, the factories will allow it to meet growing demand for its products.
The partnership between chipmakers and the Department of Defense is occurring amid the continuing global semiconductor shortage. This is partly due to the pandemic, as well as its effect on the global supply chain. The company is currently in talks with the White House about possible solutions to the shortage, along with other tech and automotive giants. Last month, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger met Biden administration officials to discuss plans for more chip factories and to apply for subsidies.
Gelsinger, in a statement on RAMP-C, states that one the most important lessons of the last year was the strategic importance semiconductors and the value for the United States having a strong domestic industry.
We were thrilled to launch Intel Foundry Services earlier in the year. It is exciting to be able to make our capabilities more accessible to a wider variety of partners, Gelsinger said.
In January, Gelsinger was appointed CEO with the goal of turning around the chipmaker and pursuing new strategies for selling and manufacturing chips. Intel was reported to have been in discussions to purchase GlobalFoundries, a chipmaker, for $30 billion. However, there has not been any news.
