The Twelve-Month Rule Does Not Describe a New Fab

The Twelve-Month Rule Does Not Describe a New Fab
by Admin on 08-20-2026 at 10:00 am

capex to wafer starts lag

By Nikhil Shah

Capital spending is often treated as if it becomes semiconductor capacity about twelve months later. That can be a useful rule for equipment installed in an existing fab. It is a poor description of a new fab built from the ground up.

I tested the distinction using five advanced-node projects in the United States where… Read More


Podcast EP360: IDA Ireland’s Role to Expand Ireland’s Footprint Across the Semiconductor Ecosystem with Anne-Marie Tierney

Podcast EP360: IDA Ireland’s Role to Expand Ireland’s Footprint Across the Semiconductor Ecosystem with Anne-Marie Tierney
by Daniel Nenni on 08-14-2026 at 2:00 pm

Daniel is joined by Anne-Marie Tierney, Divisional Manager at IDA Ireland. Anne-Marie has 24 years’ experience in the global investment environment with IDA Ireland, working across several key roles in Ireland and abroad, positioning Ireland for high impact investments, with a specific interest in semiconductors. Prior … Read More


Intel and TSMC Take Different Paths to High-NA EUV

Intel and TSMC Take Different Paths to High-NA EUV
by Daniel Nenni on 08-07-2026 at 8:00 am

Intel TSMC HNA EUV 2026

Intel and TSMC are pursuing the same objective—manufacturing smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient semiconductors—but they have adopted different strategies for advanced lithography. Intel moved early to develop High-Numerical-Aperture Extreme Ultraviolet lithography, commonly called High-NA EUV, while TSMC… Read More


TSMC CoPoS Versus Intel EMIB Semiconductor Packaging

TSMC CoPoS Versus Intel EMIB Semiconductor Packaging
by Daniel Nenni on 07-24-2026 at 10:00 am

TSMC CoPos Versus Intel EMIB 2026

TSMC’s CoPoS, generally described as Chip-on-Panel-on-Substrate, and Intel’s EMIB, or Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge, address the same strategic problem: integrating increasingly large, heterogeneous chiplet systems. However, they attack different physical constraints. CoPoS is an emerging panel-level … Read More


The Yield Partnership: Intel and PDF Solutions Tackle Advanced Nodes

The Yield Partnership: Intel and PDF Solutions Tackle Advanced Nodes
by Daniel Nenni on 06-19-2026 at 6:00 am

Intel and PDF Solutions Tackle Advanced Nodes

One of the most difficult things to do in life is ask for help. This is inherently a big problem in the semiconductor industry dating back to the IDM days where silos of secrecy were established. As a result Intel has struggled with yield since the 14nm FinFET process nodes.

On the outside PDF Solutions is a publicly traded semiconductor… Read More


Intel: Pushing EMIB Forward: Design Methodology Insights with Synopsys Tools

Intel: Pushing EMIB Forward: Design Methodology Insights with Synopsys Tools
by Daniel Nenni on 06-04-2026 at 6:00 am

synopsys intel linkedin update 1200x1200 v3

As advanced packaging becomes a critical enabler for next-generation semiconductor products, Intel continues to drive innovation through its Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB) technology. EMIB has emerged as a foundational packaging solution for heterogeneous integration, allowing multiple chiplets and… Read More


Re-Spins Get You Fired, Says Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan

Re-Spins Get You Fired, Says Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan
by Daniel Nenni on 05-29-2026 at 6:00 am

Re Spins Get You Fired, Says Intel CEO Lip Bu Tan

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s statement that “re-spins get you fired” reflects the enormous pressure facing semiconductor companies as chip complexity, manufacturing costs, and competitive demands continue to rise. In the semiconductor industry, a “re-spin” occurs when a chip design must be revised and manufactured again because… Read More


ASML High-NA EUV is Not Ready for High-Volume Production

ASML High-NA EUV is Not Ready for High-Volume Production
by Daniel Nenni on 05-22-2026 at 8:00 am

ASML Elephant High NA EUV

Contrary to the popular press, ASML High-NA EUV is not ready for logic production yet—and it may never be, at least not in the form originally envisioned. If you remember how long it took conventional EUV to become production-worthy—arguably 5–10 years—this should not come as a surprise. More importantly, this is no longer just… Read More


SemiWiki Acquires IPnest!

SemiWiki Acquires IPnest!
by Daniel Nenni on 04-24-2026 at 8:00 am

AI IP Image

After more than 15 years of collaboration with Dr. Eric Esteve and IPnest, SemiWiki has acquired the famed IP reports with Eric Esteve staying on through 2026 to ease the transition. Not only will SemiWiki provide the industry standard Interface IP and Design IP reports, SemiWiki will be expanding the depth and breadth of the coverage.… Read More


Elon Musk Needs to Put His Fab Money Where his Mouth is!

Elon Musk Needs to Put His Fab Money Where his Mouth is!
by Daniel Nenni on 04-24-2026 at 6:00 am

Terafab Elon Musk Lip Bu Tan Intel

To me this is going to be one of the bigger Chicken Little moments in the history of semiconductors. Mostly because we are now a click driven society and the media is plagued by so called influencers that live and die by clicks. In my 40+ years as a semiconductor professional I have witnessed many of these Chicken Little moments with … Read More