The move, highly unusual for Intel, comes as the company faces immense pressure from investors, clients, rivals, and even politicians to prove it can still compete with Taiwan’s TSMC.

Intel’s 18A process will be the first to feature game-changing gate-all-around RibbonFET transistors and PowerVia, a revolutionary backside power delivery system missing from TSMC’s competing N2 process.

It’s the company’s first cutting-edge node to be fully compatible with industry-standard electronic design automation (EDA) tools and third-party intellectual property, opening the door for external customers through Intel Foundry Services.

With so much at stake, Intel is using the website to highlight industry-wide collaboration, including involvement from EDA tool providers, cloud-based chip designers, and third-party IP developers.

The US military and government have selected the 18A process for key applications, adding a national security angle to Intel’s fight to regain dominance.

Despite all the hype, Chipzilla’s first 18A-powered product—the Panther Lake processor for consumer PCs—won’t hit production until mid-2024, with third-party chips expected to tape in around mid-2025.

That leaves plenty of time for industry sceptics to doubt Intel’s ability to pull off a comeback.

A decade ago, Intel’s process technologies were years ahead of the competition, launching cutting-edge innovations alongside new products. After years of setbacks, many believe Intel is permanently trailing TSMC with no way back to the top.