From Sequential R&D to Trusted Co-Innovation: The EPIC Model for Semiconductor Innovation

From Sequential R&D to Trusted Co-Innovation: The EPIC Model for Semiconductor Innovation
by Kalar Rajendiran on 10-22-2026 at 10:00 am

Gary Dickerson on the Stage

The semiconductor industry has long depended on collaboration between technology developers, equipment suppliers and manufacturers. But as artificial intelligence reshapes computing, established ways of working together may no longer be sufficient. The next wave of innovation will depend not just on what companies develop,… Read More


The Industry Challenge: AI Is Forcing Semiconductor Innovation Beyond the Chip

The Industry Challenge: AI Is Forcing Semiconductor Innovation Beyond the Chip
by Kalar Rajendiran on 10-20-2026 at 10:00 am

Partners Photo Op scaled

Applied Materials President and CEO Gary Dickerson with the EPIC Center founding partners on October 12, 2026, in Sunnyvale, CA. (Tomas Ovalle/AP Content Services for Applied Materials, Inc.)The bottlenecks are becoming interconnected

Artificial intelligence is changing what the semiconductor industry must deliver. … Read More


Beyond Moore: Co-Optimizing AI from Systems to Materials

Beyond Moore: Co-Optimizing AI from Systems to Materials
by Daniel Nenni on 08-18-2026 at 10:00 am

Beyond Moore AI from manufacturing to Systems

At the OCP APAC Summit in Taiwan, August 11–12, 2026, Applied Materials’ Subi Kengeri framed artificial intelligence as the semiconductor industry’s largest inflection point. AI demand is accelerating the industry toward one trillion dollars in annual revenue, but the keynote’s central message was more consequential than… Read More


Is Intel About to Take Flight?

Is Intel About to Take Flight?
by Jonah McLeod on 04-21-2026 at 10:00 am

Chip to Austin

The Pan Am–Boeing playbook and what Musk’s Terafab order could mean for Intel Foundry

“We either build the Terafab or we don’t have the chips.” That’s Elon Musk, speaking to Reuters, stating a supply constraint as plainly as anyone has stated one. TSMC is sold out. Samsung is committed. The existing supply chain can’t expand fast… Read More


Selling the Forges of the Future: U.S. Report Exposes China’s Reliance on Western Chip Tools

Selling the Forges of the Future: U.S. Report Exposes China’s Reliance on Western Chip Tools
by Daniel Nenni on 10-12-2025 at 10:00 am

Employees are seen working on the final assembly of ASML's TWINSCAN NXE:3400B semiconductor lithography tool with its panels removed, in Veldhoven

The U.S. House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party released a bombshell report titled “Selling the Forges of the Future” on October 7, 2025, detailing how the People’s Republic of China is stockpiling semiconductor manufacturing equipment… Read More


Applied Materials at the 2024 Design Automation Conference

Applied Materials at the 2024 Design Automation Conference
by Daniel Nenni on 06-18-2024 at 4:00 pm

DAC 2024 Banner

What is Applied Materials doing in an EDA trade show?
New semiconductor market segments such as AI, automotive and connected devices are growing at an accelerated pace and placing constant increased pressures on the PPAC (power, performance, area, cost) system requirements. In the past, these growing PPAC demands were addressed… Read More


KLAC- OK Quarter & flat guide- Hopefully 2025 recovery- Big China % & Backlog

KLAC- OK Quarter & flat guide- Hopefully 2025 recovery- Big China % & Backlog
by Robert Maire on 01-30-2024 at 6:00 am

KLAC Foundry Logic

– KLAC reported an OK QTR & flat guide-waiting for 2025 recovery?
– China exposure remains both risk & savior & big in backlog
– Wafer inspect strong- Patterning on long slide- PCB biz for sale
– Some bright spots but memory still weak- Foundry/Logic OK

Bumping along the bottom of the cycle
… Read More

AMAT- Facing Criminal Charges for China Exports – Overshadows OK Quarter

AMAT- Facing Criminal Charges for China Exports – Overshadows OK Quarter
by Robert Maire on 11-19-2023 at 8:00 pm

Criminal Investigation

– News that AMAT facing criminal charges for violating China sanctions
– Sounds like Ion implant tools sent to SMIC in China via South Korea
– Criminal probe goes back to shipments starting in 2021 & 2022
– Overshadows an otherwise OK quarter and outlook

Reuters broke the news on the day of earnings
… Read More

Has U.S. already lost Chip war to China? Is Taiwan’s silicon shield a liability?

Has U.S. already lost Chip war to China? Is Taiwan’s silicon shield a liability?
by Robert Maire on 09-20-2023 at 6:00 am

SMIC 7nm
  • Huawei’s 7NM chip? This wasn’t supposed to happen
  • Are Chips a weapon for U.S. or China? Role reversal?
  • Will Taiwan turn from protected asset to unwanted liability?
  • Are sanctions so porous that US has already lost to China?
While EUV is critical to advanced chips there are workarounds

Many people either thought or assumed… Read More


Applied Materials Announces “EPIC” Development Center

Applied Materials Announces “EPIC” Development Center
by Scotten Jones on 06-07-2023 at 8:00 am

Applied Materials EPIC briefing under embargo Page 10

On May 22nd Applied Materials announced a new development center, Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization Center (EPIC).

Applied Materials already operates the Maydan Technology Center (MTC), a billion-dollar development facility with over 120 advanced process tools and 80 metrology and inspection tools… Read More