Howard Lutnick Says Trump Administration Chip R&D Partnership With Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger's Startup Can 'Fundamentally Rewrite The Limits'
The Trump administration has signed a preliminary agreement to invest up to $150 million in xLight, a startup co-founded by former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, to develop a new energy-efficient laser for advanced chip manufacturing. This investment aims to support the construction and testing of a free-electron laser prototype, which could enhance wafer-processing efficiency by 30% to 40% while reducing energy demands. The initiative marks the first major action by the CHIPS Research and Development Office under the current administration, following a broader push to secure domestic supply chains in semiconductors.