These are turbulent times for Intel. Following the sacking of CEO Pat Gelsinger, the company is the subject of much speculation and is attracting the attention of its competitors. According to Reuters, TSMC has decided to take the lead by proposing a novel solution: a partnership with Nvidia, AMD and Broadcom to manage certain Intel activities.
An unprecedented joint venture
In a sector where competition is fierce, seeing TSMC, Nvidia, AMD and Broadcom join forces seems unlikely. However, according to Reuters sources, the Taiwanese foundry has proposed to the three American groups that they create a joint venture to operate Intel's factories. TSMC would take over the management of Intel's foundry division, without owning a majority stake.
This initiative would aim to stabilize Intel while avoiding too much control by a foreign company, a sensitive point for the US administration. Qualcomm could also join the discussions, which are still in their early stages.
A complex case with strategic stakes
This project follows on from exchanges between TSMC and the Trump administration, which is keen to see a national player like Intel restored to health. However, a number of obstacles remain: the differences in manufacturing processes between TSMC and Intel, as well as the United States' reluctance to let a Taiwanese company take over its foundries.
To overcome this resistance, TSMC has brought together American players who are already Intel customers, notably via its 18A chip production technologies. If negotiations are successful, this alliance could profoundly reshape the semiconductor landscape. It remains to be seen whether Intel will accept this unprecedented transformation.
