GlobalFoundries Acquires Singapore’s AMF to Lead AI Chip Revolution

GlobalFoundries, one of the world’s leading contract chipmakers, has acquired Singapore’s Advanced Micro Foundry (AMF), positioning Singapore as a crucial hub in the AI-driven semiconductor boom. The strategic move establishes GF as the world’s largest silicon photonics foundry by revenue.

Strategic Partnership and Research Center

GF and A*Star, which spun off AMF in 2017, have entered a research partnership to advance silicon photonics technology. The US chip giant will establish a silicon photonics R&D center of excellence in Singapore, focusing on next-generation materials for 400Gbps data transfer speeds.

“GF’s acquisition marks the next phase of AMF’s journey, scaling to bring world-class silicon photonics innovations developed in Singapore to global markets,” A*Star stated.

What is Silicon Photonics?

Silicon photonics integrates optical and electronic components on a single chip, using light instead of electrical signals for ultra-fast, energy-efficient data transfer. This breakthrough technology is critical for handling massive AI datasets.

AMF CEO Jagadish C.V. said: “With complementary technology portfolios, we are proud to join forces with a trusted manufacturer with global reach, and together, look forward to advancing silicon photonics technology for a broader range of markets and customers.”

Expanding Applications Beyond AI

Beyond data centers and telecom networks, photonics chips power LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles, robotics, medical imaging, and quantum computing. The acquisition expands GF’s photonics portfolio and unlocks new market opportunities.

GF CEO Tim Breen emphasized: “As data moves faster and workloads grow more complex, the ability to move information with greater speed, precision and power efficiency is now fundamental to AI data centers and advanced telecom networks.”

Singapore’s Semiconductor Leadership

Singapore has invested over $1 billion in semiconductor R&D, with priority areas including photonics, advanced packaging, and specialized materials. A*Star’s Institute of Microelectronics launched Singapore’s silicon photonics program in 2007, leading to AMF’s spin-off.

A*Star CEO Beh Kian Teik noted: “This collaboration builds on nearly two decades of national investment and reflects strong confidence in Singapore’s translational R&D strengths.”

Solving AI’s Data Bottleneck

Kevin Soukup, head of GF’s global photonics business, explained how AI’s explosive growth drives photonics demand. “High-end accelerators sit idle 40-80% of the time waiting for data. Silicon photonics reduces latency and operates at high bandwidth with lower power footprint,” he said.

The acquisition combines AMF’s strength in long-haul optical communications with GF’s expertise in mid-range and short-range networks, creating a comprehensive optical networking solution.