ASML Holding NV, a major player in the semiconductor equipment industry, and Mistral AI, an artificial intelligence company based in France, have entered into a strategic partnership. The agreement is aimed at integrating AI models across ASML’s product range and operations to help customers achieve faster time to market and improved performance in holistic lithography systems.
As part of the collaboration, ASML will invest €1.3 billion as the lead investor in Mistral AI’s Series C funding round. This investment will result in ASML holding approximately 11 percent of Mistral AI on a fully diluted basis.
Christophe Fouquet, President and Chief Executive Officer of ASML, said: “The collaboration between Mistral AI and ASML aims to generate clear benefits for ASML customers through innovative products and solutions enabled by AI, and will offer potential for joint research to address future opportunities. We believe that this strategic partnership with Mistral AI, which goes beyond a traditional vendor-client relationship, is the best way to capture this significant opportunity. We also believe that this collaboration is value enhancing to Mistral AI.”
Arthur Mensch, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mistral AI added: “We are proud to engage in this long-term partnership with ASML, combining our frontier AI expertise with ASML’s unmatched industrial leadership and most sophisticated engineering capabilities. We believe this partnership will strengthen Mistral AI’s proposition, position, and value in the AI market. Together, we will accelerate technological progress across the global semi-conductor and AI value chain.”
According to both companies, the partnership marks a unique alliance between a semiconductor equipment manufacturer and an advanced artificial intelligence firm. The arrangement seeks to leverage ASML’s experience in lithography products alongside Mistral AI’s capabilities.
In connection with its investment, ASML will receive a seat on Mistral AI’s Strategic Committee. Roger Dassen, Chief Financial Officer at ASML, will represent the company on the committee while maintaining his current responsibilities.
