Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (SSNLF) is making strategic bets on precision measurement technology as it races to catch up in the advanced semiconductor manufacturing game. The company is investing in metrology startups—companies that specialize in the ultra-precise measurements needed to make cutting-edge chips—to improve production yields and compete for the surging demand driven by artificial intelligence workloads.
According to a report from the Korea Economic Daily on Wednesday, Samsung has taken a stake in Invisix, a metrology startup founded by former ASML Holding NV (ASML) engineers. The goal? Better yields at the 2-nanometer node, where even microscopic imperfections can tank production economics.
Samsung has also quietly increased its investment in FemtoMetrix, another U.S.-based chip metrology company. The moves signal that Samsung is serious about tightening control over manufacturing quality as it tries to close the gap with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSM), the current leader in advanced foundry processes.
The 2nm Race Explained
Two-nanometer chips aren't just incrementally better—they represent a fundamental shift in how transistors are built. These chips use Gate-All-Around (GAA) nanosheet transistors, a new architecture that moves beyond the FinFET technology that's been the industry standard for years.
The payoff is substantial: higher performance and significantly lower power consumption compared to older 3nm and 7nm nodes. That matters enormously for AI processing, machine learning workloads, and high-performance computing applications where every watt and every millisecond counts.
Taiwan Semiconductor Already Has a Head Start
Here's the challenge Samsung faces: Taiwan Semiconductor isn't just developing 2nm technology—it's already shipping it at volume. The Taiwanese chipmaking giant confirmed last December that it had begun mass production of 2nm chips using its first-generation nanosheet transistor architecture at Fab 22 in Kaohsiung. Production ramped up in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Taiwan Semiconductor isn't stopping there. The company is developing N2P, an enhanced version of its 2nm process node, with mass production targeted for the second half of 2026. And to meet what it sees as explosive AI-driven demand, the company is aggressively expanding its 2nm manufacturing capacity.
The demand is already fierce. Apple Inc (AAPL) and Nvidia Corp (NVDA) have reportedly locked up much of Taiwan Semiconductor's most advanced production capacity, leaving little room for other customers.
TSM Price Action: Taiwan Semiconductor shares were up 0.33% at $336.86 during premarket trading on Wednesday. The stock is approaching its 52-week high of $351.33, according to market data.
