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Tag: Foundry

  • Samsung Foundry drops further behind TSMC after disasterous Q4

    Samsung Foundry drops further behind TSMC after disasterous Q4

    TSMC is the largest contract chip foundry in the world. Looking at its roll call of customers, you can see why it is number one. After all, the Taiwan-based foundry manufactures chips based on designs submitted by companies such as Apple, Nvidia, AMD, MediaTek, Qualcomm, and Broadcom. Data compiled by TrendForce that The Chosun Daily published says that during the fourth quarter of 2024, TSMC’s market share rose 2.4 percentage points to 67.1%.
    That means approximately two out of every three chips produced during the last three months of the year were built by TSMC. As for second-place Samsung Foundry, its market share dropped 1 full percentage point from 9.1% to 8.1% during the same quarter. Sammy’s foundry has had to deal with poor yields on its advanced chips, which this year resulted in the use of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy application processor (AP) on every Galaxy S25 series unit.
    A repeat could be in store for next year’s Galaxy S26 line unless Samsung Foundry can hike its yield on 2nm production from the current 30% before mass production of the Exynos 2600 AP begins. If there is enough of an improvement, the Exynos 2600 SoC will power the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ in all markets except for the U.S., China, and Canada.
    But we digress. The gap in market share between TSMC and Samsung Foundry increased sequentially from 55.6% in Q3 to 59% in Q4. TrendForce says that TSMC is benefiting from the AI buzz as demand for Nvidia’s GPU chips used for AI training, inference (predictions and decisions), and computing picks up. Those chips are made by TSMC.
    Also helping TSMC is the demand for high-end smartphone chips including those used to power the iPhone, and Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S and foldable Galaxy Z models. Starting this year the new Tensor G5 AP, designed by Google from the ground up, will be built by TSMC using its third-generation 3nm node (N3P) and deployed in the Pixel 10 line. That is the same node that TSMC will use to build Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 for next year’s Galaxy S26 Ultra.
    You might be wondering which foundry is in third place behind Samsung Foundry. That would be China’s largest foundry, SMIC. While the latter appears to be handling the production of Huawei’s APs, it also could be making some money building Huawei’s Ascend AI accelerators. Long-time PhoneArena readers probably are aware that thanks to U.S. sanctions, SMIC cannot purchase extreme ultraviolet lithography machines preventing SMIC from building chips using a process node more advanced than 7nm.
    TSMC generated $26.85 billion in revenue during Q4 2024, a gain of 14.1% year-over-year. Samsung Foundry’s Q4 revenue declined 1.4% to $3.26 billion.
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  • Unilever Foundry launches co-working space in Singapore

    Unilever Foundry launches co-working space in Singapore

    Unilever Foundry, a Unilever-lead initiative for start-ups and innovators, has opened a collaborative working space at the firm’s regional office in Singapore – the first of its kind for Unilever.

    Dubbed Level3, the new collaborative space was launched by the Unilever Foundry to provide startups with the opportunity to interact and partner with Unilever and other ecosystem partners to solve business challenges. This ranges from marketing to finance, logistics, supply chain and customer development.

    “Level3 offers our business a direct connection with disruptive technologies and changemakers to shape the way we work — ultimately impacting people’s lives,” said Pier Luigi Sigismondi, president, South East Asia and Australasia. “Level3 is the springboard for startups to scale and build successful businesses.”

    Opening February 14, within the Unilever regional headquarters in Singapore, the 22,000 square foot workspace aims to connect startups to Unilever brands, and give them access to existing Unilever Foundry programs.

    Fifteen international and local startups are taking part, including Adludio, ConnectedLife, Datacraftt, EcoHub, GetCraft, Next Billion, Olapic, Snapcart, TaskSpotting and Try and Review.

    It comes at a time when industry experts are attempting to foster relations in Singapore between big multinationals and innovators.

    “The set-up of Level3 in Singapore — a global first for Unilever — is a strong testament to the growing vibrancy of Singapore’s startup ecosystem,” said Dr Beh Swan Gin, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board. “Level3 represents an emerging corporate innovation model that is aligned with EDB’s efforts to encourage collaborations between multinational companies and other enterprises such as startups.”

    Unilever tapped Padang & Co to design the building and manage all programs within the space. The innovation experts will host learning and networking opportunities, such as fireside chats, sharing sessions, mentoring programs and access to training and resources offered by technology partners.

    “We envision Level3 as a vibrant workspace offering global opportunities for entrepreneurs. We are passionate about connecting members of the startup ecosystem to spark collaboration and ignite innovation,” said Derrick Chiang, CEO, Padang & Co.

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