On October 12 (local time), Applied Materials opened the Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization Center (EPIC) in Silicon Valley, California, USA. The center is planned to become one of the world's largest collaborative R&D facilities for semiconductor process technology and manufacturing equipment. It is expected to gradually invest approximately $5 billion as client projects commence, focusing on the R&D of next-generation semiconductor materials, equipment, and manufacturing processes. Companies such as TSMC, Intel, Samsung Electronics, Micron, and SK Hynix are founding partners.
