Intel is focused on launching its Foundry Services strategy and attracting more customers. To achieve this goal, the company has taken steps to engage Elon Musk and has finalized an agreement with Arm to facilitate chip designers in getting their products manufactured.
Recently, the Santa Clara-based chipmaker celebrated receiving $8.5 billion in direct funding through the CHIPS and Science Act, as well as potential loans of up to $11 billion. This funding aims to support the construction of new semiconductor fabrication plants in the US.
CEO Pat Gelsinger has extended a public invitation to Elon Musk for a tour of Intel's chip manufacturing facilities through a social media platform. Gelsinger expressed his interest in giving Musk a personal tour and discussing the matter privately, potentially due to Musk's influence over high-tech companies that could become customers of Intel's fabrication plants.
In alignment with its strategy to separate the semiconductor foundry side of its business and the design teams, Intel has disclosed its intention to focus on Intel Foundry Services seeking business from third parties. The company's effort reflects the increasing cost of building advanced semiconductor fabrication plants, making it economically necessary to seek additional volume and revenue from other customers.
Intel has also solidified an agreement with chip designer Arm to facilitate the manufacturing of Arm-based designs by Intel. This collaboration aims to provide essential IP, manufacturing support, and financial assistance for startups in order to actualize their Arm-based SoCs using Intel Foundry's global manufacturing capabilities.
Notably, at Intel's recent Foundry Direct Connect event, the company highlighted a contract with Microsoft to build chips on its 18A process node and expressed its intention to attract business from other prominent companies, including Nvidia, Qualcomm, Google, and even its rival, AMD.
