Lam Research to invest more than $3 billion in global R&D lab network
Lam Research plans to invest more than USD 3 billion over the next five years to expand its global research and development lab network. The investment is expected to increase experiment capacity by more than 50% and further compress product development cycles for semiconductor customers.
Lam's global lab network spans the United States, Asia and Europe and currently supports more than one million experiments annually. The expansion is intended to add infrastructure and capabilities across the network, which operates as an integrated 24/7 system enabling parallel innovation across time zones. In recent customer engagements, the approach has enabled Lam to shorten process development cycles by up to 2.5 times, according to a press release from the company.
The network combines specialised labs purpose-built for distinct steps of the innovation cycle – from foundational research in new materials, chemistries and mechatronics, to process development labs where engineering and manufacturing teams work side by side, to technology centres located near customer facilities for rapid qualification and validation.
"In the AI era, the pace of innovation is relentless, requiring chips with new architectures, different materials, and complex features engineered with nanoscale precision. Our ability to increase velocity throughout the R&D process has become a decisive advantage," said Tim Archer, President and CEO of Lam Research.
Lam plans to begin expanding the lab network this year.
