Applied Materials opens $5 billion EPIC Center in Sunnyvale to speed AI‑chip R&D

On 12 Oct 2026 Applied Materials inaugurated its Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization (EPIC) Center, a 600,000‑square‑foot R&D campus in Sunnyvale, California. The $5 billion project houses roughly four acres of cleanroom space and was built with more than six million construction hours. Founding partners such as TSMC, Intel, Samsung, Micron and SK Hynix, together with several equipment suppliers and universities, will work side‑by‑side with Applied engineers.

The company says the new collaboration model should help it capture more than 30% growth in its semiconductor‑equipment segment during calendar 2026. Faster access to next‑generation materials and equipment could also improve the timing of volume production for its customers.

  • 1The EPIC Center represents a $5 billion capital outlay.
  • 2The facility covers 600,000 sq ft and contains nearly four acres of advanced cleanroom space.
  • 3Construction required over six million hours.
  • 4The building’s foundation holds enough concrete to fill 34 Olympic‑size swimming pools.
  • 5Its steel structure contains enough steel to build two Eiffel‑Tower‑sized frames.
  • 6Founding chipmaker partners include TSMC, Intel, Samsung Electronics, Micron and SK Hynix.

Sources