Specialty process nodes by GlobalFoundries: status and timeline

Milestones

Next · New fabs and expansion projects underway

GlobalFoundries founded as AMD spin-offMar 2009Complete.
Acquired IBM MicroelectronicsOct 2014Complete.
Exited leading-edge race, focused on specialty nodes2018Complete.
IPO on NASDAQ1 Nov 2021Complete.
CHIPS Act funding awarded (~$1.5B)Nov 2024Complete.
Tim Breen named CEOApr 2025Complete.
New fabs and expansion projects underwayTarget 2026Current milestone.

Most important updates

GlobalFoundries receives up to $1.5B from US CHIPS Act20 Nov 2024
GlobalFoundries IPO on NASDAQ at $26B valuation28 Oct 2021

Upcoming

2026New fabs and expansion projects underway (next)
2027New US fab capacity comes online

Current obstacles

Customer concentrationServing niche markets (RF, photonics) means high dependence on a few large customers or trends.
Fab utilization cyclesSpecialty-node demand is less predictable than mass-market processes, leading to utilization swings.

Physics limits

Transistor densityMature nodes (28 nm and above) have lower transistor density than leading-edge, limiting logic power and limiting digital logic applications.
Power consumption per gateLarger transistors and longer wires on mature nodes consume more power per computation than cutting-edge technology.

How it works

2 parts

Specialty processes

RF and photonics integration

Processes include high-quality passive components, RF transistors, and waveguides for optical interconnects, all on the same wafer as the logic.

Yield advantage

Mature-node expertise

Mature nodes have well-understood defect modes and established solutions, so yields can be very high once a design is proven.

Spec sheet

Spec	Specialty process nodes
Manufacturing locations	4 (Malta NY, Essex Junction VT, Dresden DE, Singapore)^R (reported)
Mature node focus	28 nm and above^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Wed 20 Nov 2024

Major: GlobalFoundries receives up to $1.5B from US CHIPS ActPressFunding

Thu 28 Oct 2021

Major: GlobalFoundries IPO on NASDAQ at $26B valuationPressFunding

About GlobalFoundries

The team behind Specialty process nodes

GlobalFoundries

Specialty foundry, RF, photonics, automotive semiconductors

GlobalFoundries is the largest US-headquartered pure-play foundry, manufacturing chips designed by others. It exited the leading-edge race in 2018 and specializes in differentiated processes for automotive, aerospace, RF, and silicon photonics applications.

Operates fabs in New York (Malta), Vermont (Essex Junction), Dresden, and Singapore; exited leading-edge node race.
Specializes in RF, silicon photonics, embedded memory, and power-management processes; serves automotive, aerospace, and 5G.
Benefiting from ~$1.5B CHIPS Act funding and US reshoring policies; receives defense and quantum awards.

globalfoundries.com (opens globalfoundries.com)Company profile →

Founded: 200917 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Public
Listed: GFS (opens google.com)NASDAQ
Valuation: $35Best. market capOct 2026estimate
Staff: ~13,500Jan 2025
Works in: ComputingChip factories (foundries)
Coverage: 1 program · 2 updateslatest 20 Nov 2024checked 10 Oct
Partners: US CHIPS Act (opens nist.gov)
Investors: Mubadala Investment Company (opens mubadala.ae)
People: Tim Breen (opens gf.com)CEOTom Caulfield (opens gf.com)Executive Chairman

Spec

Specialty process nodes

Manufacturing locations

4 (Malta NY, Essex Junction VT, Dresden DE, Singapore)^R (reported)

Mature node focus

28 nm and above^R (reported)