SoftBank-Backed Saimemory Teams with Intel to Forge Next-Generation Memory Chips
Two tech titans are joining forces to reshape the silicon landscape.
### The Memory Arms Race Heats Up
Saimemory, buoyed by SoftBank's deep pockets, is locking arms with semiconductor behemoth Intel. The target? Next-generation memory chips that promise to smash current performance bottlenecks. This isn't just an R&D handshake—it's a strategic maneuver to carve out a dominant position in the high-stakes memory market before competitors can blink.
### Why This Partnership Cuts Through the Noise
Forget incremental upgrades. This collaboration bypasses the traditional playbook, aiming for a foundational shift in how data is stored and accessed. Intel brings its manufacturing muscle and architectural prowess to the table, while Saimemory injects specialized memory design intellect. Together, they're not just building a better chip; they're laying the groundwork for the next wave of computing, from AI data centers to the edge.
The move signals a clear industry pivot: raw processing power alone isn't enough. The future belongs to those who solve the memory wall. If successful, this partnership could deliver the kind of speed and efficiency leaps that make today's hardware look quaint. Just another day in tech, where today's moon shot is tomorrow's minimum viable product—and where 'strategic partnership' is often code for 'we needed someone else's wallet to fund our ambition.'
Major makers sold out through 2026
It’s bad out there. Major memory makers Micron and SK Hynix? They’ve already sold out everything they can make through 2026. Data centers are expected to gobble up 70% of all memory chips made worldwide in 2026.
The tight supply has sent prices through the roof. DRAM memory used in computers and servers saw prices spike 172% throughout 2025. Some quarters hit price jumps between 50% and 55%, according to TrendForce.
Other parts of tech are getting squeezed too. IDC warned that PC sales could drop anywhere from 4.9% to 8.9% in 2026 because manufacturers can’t get enough chips. Smartphone sales might also slip by 2.1%.
Government-funded memory tech could solve global chip shortage
Samsung and SK Hynix bumped up prices on their advanced HBM3E memory by nearly 20% for 2026 deliveries. Both are also pouring money into boosting production. Samsung’s planning to expand HBM production by 50% in 2026. SK Hynix is spending four times more on new facilities and equipment.
SK Hynix controls over half the market for high-bandwidth memory right now. They’re expected to grab 70% of the next generation market for HBM4, which Nvidia’s upcoming Rubin platform will use. At CES in January 2026, SK Hynix showed off the world’s first 16-layer HBM4 module—48GB of data that moves at 11.7 gigabits per second. Both Samsung and SK Hynix moved up their schedules to start making HBM4 in February 2026.
Meanwhile, Intel’s bringing in technology from work they did with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Memory Technology program. That program was all about building better memory chips. Intel specifically focused on making DRAM run better while using less power.
The partnership also tackles another big concern: how much energy AI computing consumes.
As AI systems get bigger and more powerful, they’re eating up enormous amounts of electricity. The ZAM program has energy savings baked in from the start.
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