GlobalFoundries Inc., headquartered in Malta, New York, has evolved into a major player in the semiconductor industry since its inception in 2009 as a spin-off from AMD. With roots as a joint venture between AMD and the UAE’s Mubadala Investment Company, which now holds an 82% stake, GlobalFoundries has grown strategically through acquisitions and technological advancements.
Starting with the acquisition of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing in Singapore in 2010, the company significantly expanded its global manufacturing capabilities. A pivotal moment came in 2015 when GlobalFoundries acquired IBM’s microelectronics business, gaining advanced fabrication facilities and intellectual property that strengthened its position in semiconductor manufacturing.
The company’s innovation trajectory continued with the 2018 introduction of the FDX™ FD-SOI platform, focusing on power efficiency and connectivity, particularly in radio-frequency silicon-on-insulator (RF-SOI) technology. This positioned GlobalFoundries as a leader in critical markets requiring advanced semiconductor solutions.
Going public in October 2021 under the Nasdaq ticker GFS, GlobalFoundries entered a new phase of growth, channeling investments into scaling manufacturing and enhancing technology leadership.
Most recently, GlobalFoundries expanded its footprint with a US$4 billion fabrication plant in Singapore in 2023, generating 1,000 high-value jobs. This expansion underscores the company’s commitment to bolstering its global manufacturing presence.
In 2025, GlobalFoundries made strategic acquisitions that further diversified its technological portfolio. The purchase of Advanced Micro Foundry, a silicon photonics firm, catapulted the company into becoming one of the largest manufacturers of silicon photonics technology, crucial for reducing power consumption and boosting data transfer speeds in AI data centers and telecom networks.
Additionally, the acquisition of MIPS, a developer of RISC-V-based solutions, marked GlobalFoundries’ entry into producing its own processors leveraging the innovative RISC-V instruction set architecture. This move promises to integrate RISC-V and AI intellectual property into its product portfolio, enhancing its competitiveness in the semiconductor landscape.
Today, GlobalFoundries stands as the third-largest semiconductor foundry by revenue, with operational bases in Singapore, the European Union (notably Dresden, Germany), and the United States (including Essex Junction, Vermont, and Malta, New York).
GlobalFoundries’ journey exemplifies how strategic expansion, innovation in technology platforms, and targeted acquisitions have positioned it as a vital force in the semiconductor industry, shaping the future of technology infrastructure worldwide.
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