FD-SOI

GlobalFoundries has announced FDX Fusion, a new FD-SOI manufacturing node the company describes as 7nm-class, roughly doubling transistor density compared with its 22FDX process. The announcement is notable because GlobalFoundries quit leading-edge FinFET development seven years ago, halting its 7nm FinFET program and focusing instead on specialized process technologies. Industry observers are weighing what the move means for the foundry's competitiveness against TSMC and Samsung, and whether FDX Fusion signals a renewed push toward advanced nodes.

GlobalFoundries has unveiled a 7nm-class process node called FDX Fusion, built on fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD-SOI) technology. The company, which previously stepped back from leading-edge FinFET development, is positioning the planar transistor process for automotive, edge AI and industrial applications. Engineers and semiconductor watchers are discussing the move as an alternative path to advanced chips that avoids the crowded FinFET mainstream.

GlobalFoundries has announced a roadmap to deliver what it calls the world's most advanced FD-SOI semiconductor platform, aimed at enabling Physical AI applications. The company positions the technology as key for chips that bridge digital intelligence with the physical world, such as robotics and sensing systems. Details on timeline and partners have not been widely reported yet.