ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet expressed confidence in the Dutch semiconductor giant's market dominance during an interview in Beverly Hills on Tuesday morning. Speaking ahead of his appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Fouquet stated, 'no one is coming for us,' regarding potential rivals.
Fouquet, who became ASML's CEO in 2024 after more than a decade with the company, addressed the company's position in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. ASML produces the only machines capable of printing microscopic patterns on silicon wafers for advanced semiconductors.
These machines are roughly the size of a school bus and cost between $200 million and $400 million each. ASML currently holds a valuation of over $530 billion, making it the most valuable company in Europe.
New competitors are attempting to break the company's hold on the supply chain. TechCrunch reports that Substrate, a San Francisco-based startup backed by a protégé of Peter Thiel, has raised over $100 million and reached a $1 billion valuation on the promise of building rival lithography machines.
Geopolitical risks also pose a threat to the hardware leader. TechCrunch reported that former ASML engineers in China may have partially reverse-engineered the company's technology.
Despite these challenges, demand for chipmaking equipment remains high. The four largest American tech firms—Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Google—are expected to spend more than $600 billion on AI infrastructure this year alone.
ASML has stated that global demand for chips will likely outpace supply for years. The company currently invests €4.5 billion annually to advance its proprietary technology.
