Supply chain consolidation and the next-generation foundry model

The supply chain that supports the design and development of today´s advanced semiconductor devices is undergoing a transformation that is driven by new technical challenges as well as economic realities. Independent device manufacturers (IDMs) and system companies are now supporting an increasing trend of outsourced manufacturing. This has spurred a new wave of growth in the independent foundry business, which originally made its mark as the foundation on which many successful fabless semiconductor companies based their businesses. As foundries develop innovative business models to serve a wider variety of customers, they have also become key driving forces for the increasing specialization and integration across the semiconductor industry supply chain. This paper looks at the changing semiconductor industry landscape and the growing importance of the next-generation foundry model