This episode examines the engineering, organizational, and geopolitical history behind ASML’s development of extreme ultraviolet lithography. It traces the company’s evolution from its origins in Veldhoven to its position as the world’s sole supplier of EUV tools, and explains how collaborations with Carl Zeiss, Cymer, TSMC, Intel, and a global supplier network made the technology possible. The narrative focuses on the technical challenges, institutional learning, and multi-decade coordination required to push semiconductor manufacturing to the limits of physics.
Source MaterialThis episode is informed by two primary sources:
* ASML’s Architects by René Raaijmakers
* The Asianometry ASML video series and research notes
These works provided detailed coverage of ASML’s early history, internal engineering culture, supplier network, EUV development, High-NA optics, and the strategic role of TSMC in scaling the technology.
