Taiwan-based TSMC is the leading contract chip manufacturer in the world. It takes up a major chunk of the very lucrative chipmaking market. Samsung has been trying hard to catch up to its rival but has been finding it difficult, particularly with TSMC's lead on the 3nm process.
Samsung is now laser-focused on beating TSMC to the 2nm process, which will be used to make the next generation of advanced chips. The company is heavily investing in this goal and aims to achieve it in the near future.
Samsung is all in on advanced chipmaking
The global foundry market is a lucrative business. Estimates suggest that the market is worth $126 billion this year and is projected to reach over $150 billion by 2026, an estimated average annual growth of 13.8%. Much of this growth will be driven by the demand for advanced chipsets manufactured on processes below 5nm.
Samsung isn't the only company looking to take the lead on the 2nm process from TSMC. Intel, which recently received next-generation advanced chipmaking High-NA EUV equipment from ASML, is actively trying to achieve the same outcome.
Meanwhile, the Korean giant is working on stabilizing the mass production of its 3nm GAA process while also focusing on ramping up the development of its 2nm process. TSMC is reportedly going to introduce GAA technology for its 2nm process but analysts believe that since Samsung has utilized GAA earlier than TSMC, it may have the edge on the 2nm process.