Applied Materials

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Applied Materials opens world's largest chip R&D center in Silicon Valley

Operator of the EPIC Center

Applied Materials opened a $5 billion research complex in Sunnyvale, California, where the world's biggest chipmakers will work side by side on AI chip technology. The Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization (EPIC) Center is the largest facility built for collaborative semiconductor R&D. Applied says the goal is to cut the path from lab breakthrough to commercial production from 10-12 years to as little as six.

Updated Oct 16

AI demand drives a surge in chipmaking equipment orders

Money Moves

As of August 2026: Reported fiscal Q3 2026 results on August 13

Applied Materials makes the machines that build chips. On August 13, the company said its equipment business should grow more than 30% in 2026, and its advanced-packaging business more than 50%, both tied to demand for artificial-intelligence chips.

Updated Aug 13