Applied Materials and GlobalFoundries collaborate on waveguide fabrication facility

Applied Materials announced a strategic collaboration with GlobalFoundries to establish a waveguide fabrication facility in Singapore. This initiative aims to bolster photonics technology, which plays a role in Augmented Reality (AR) glasses and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, through high-volume manufacturing.

The partnership is set to enhance the photonics ecosystem in Singapore, tapping into a network of materials, sensors, integration, assembly, test, and applications. Applied Materials will develop waveguide components alongside GlobalFoundries, utilizing their semiconductor expertise.

Paul Meissner, Vice President and General Manager of Applied Materials’ Photonics Platforms Business, noted the importance of photonics in meeting the demands of next-generation AI applications. He stated that this collaboration strengthens Applied's position in materials engineering, facilitating the delivery of advanced display technologies.

Yew Kong Tan, Senior Vice President and General Manager at GlobalFoundries, expressed confidence in the partnership, highlighting the synergy between their semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and Applied's materials engineering expertise. This collaboration is expected to advance the adoption of next-generation devices.