Trump Administration Backs Former Intel CEO’s XLight in Race for Advanced Free-Electron Laser Dominance

Washington throws its weight behind a high-stakes tech gamble. The Trump administration has officially backed XLight, the advanced free-electron laser venture helmed by a former Intel CEO, signaling a major push in the next-generation tech arms race.

The Laser Focus: Beyond Moore's Law

Forget incremental chip improvements. Free-electron laser technology represents a fundamental leap, promising unprecedented power and precision for applications ranging from semiconductor manufacturing to defense systems. XLight's approach doesn't just tweak existing processes—it aims to rewrite the rules of photonics.

Why This Backing Matters Now

This isn't just another grant. The administration's endorsement acts as a powerful accelerant, cutting through regulatory red tape and attracting a flood of follow-on capital. It positions XLight not merely as a startup, but as a national priority in a fiercely competitive global landscape where technological supremacy is currency.

The Finance Angle: A Calculated Bet on Physics

While Wall Street obsesses over quarterly earnings, this move bets on decade-long physics horizons. The backing provides XLight with the runway needed to tackle engineering challenges that would vaporize a typical venture capital timeline. It's a stark reminder that while traders chase memecoins, real geopolitical power is still built in labs—funded by those who can afford to ignore the daily market noise. A cynical jab? Perhaps. But it's one that separates speculative fever from strategic infrastructure.

The bottom line: This partnership bypasses traditional funding cycles, placing a massive bet on a technology that could define the next era of American tech leadership. The real ROI won't be on a stock ticker, but in the patents and capabilities that come from mastering light itself.

TLDRs;

• Trump administration agrees to invest $150 million in XLight, acquiring an equity stake in the startup.
• XLight develops advanced free-electron lasers for EUV lithography, aiming to improve semiconductor manufacturing efficiency.
• The CHIPS Act funding signals US priority on domestic next-generation lithography and semiconductor innovation.
• XLight’s collaboration with national labs and suppliers positions it for critical technology scaling and partnerships.

The TRUMP administration has announced plans to inject up to US$150 million into XLight, a semiconductor startup led by former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal citing the US Commerce Department.

As part of this agreement, the government will take an equity stake in the company, marking a significant commitment to supporting domestic semiconductor innovation.

While specific terms and the timeline for the investment have not been publicly disclosed, the announcement underscores the administration’s ongoing focus on advancing critical technologies in the semiconductor sector.

XLight Targets Next-Generation EUV Lithography

XLight is developing particle-accelerator-driven free-electron lasers (FELs) designed for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. These devices generate tunable light beams that can replace the laser-produced plasma sources currently used in ASML’s EUV scanners, though the company does not aim to replace the scanners themselves.

Pat Gelsinger, XLight’s CEO, explained that these energy-efficient lasers could achieve tenfold improvements over existing technology. “Building an energy-efficient EUV laser with tenfold improvements over today’s technology will drive the next era of Moore’s Law, accelerating fab productivity while establishing a vital domestic capability,” Gelsinger said.

The first FEL system is currently under development at the Albany Nanotech Complex, a hub for semiconductor research and development, in collaboration with six Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories.

CHIPS Act Incentives Signal National Priority

The $150 million funding is structured as a Letter of Intent, a preliminary and nonbinding agreement issued through the Trump administration’s Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Research and Development Office.

This initial investment highlights the US government’s strategic focus on fostering domestic capabilities in next-generation lithography and semiconductor manufacturing.

Separately, XLight recently closed a $40 million Series B funding round led by Playground Global, a venture capital firm. The combination of private investment and federal support positions XLight to accelerate its development pipeline and scale production of advanced FEL systems.

Opportunities for Suppliers and Partners

As XLight moves toward production, suppliers and industry partners have opportunities to engage with the company. Targeted components include superconducting radio-frequency (RF) cavities and cryomodules, which are vacuum-insulated cryogenic housings for critical accelerator elements.

XLight has collaborated with Fermilab (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory) to develop these components, signaling its commitment to high-quality, domestically sourced technology.

Industry observers note that government backing not only de-risks XLight’s operations but also signals broader US priorities in maintaining semiconductor leadership. Accelerator suppliers, EUV tool developers, and investors will be watching closely as the startup advances its FEL technology toward commercial deployment.

Looking Ahead

XLight’s partnership with the Trump administration represents a convergence of private innovation and public investment in next-generation semiconductor tools.

If successful, the startup’s FEL technology could significantly enhance EUV lithography, boosting fabrication efficiency while reinforcing domestic manufacturing capabilities.

The broader semiconductor industry will likely monitor this development as a key indicator of the US government’s long-term commitment to sustaining global competitiveness in chip technology.