ImportantHardware
ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet on his company’s monopoly: no one is coming for us
ASML maintains an unassailable monopoly in advanced chip manufacturing through its exclusive EUV lithography technology, making it Europe's most valuable company ($530B) as AI infrastructure spending drives unprecedented chip demand that will remain supply-constrained for years. This critical dependency means enterprise AI initiatives will face continued capacity constraints, making semiconductor sourcing and long-term chip procurement planning essential strategic imperatives for technology leaders. While new competitors like Substrate threaten ASML's position, the company's massive R&D spending (€4.5B annually) and 10-20 year technology roadmap create substantial barriers to entry that protect this linchpin of global AI infrastructure.
Christophe Fouquet, who became ASML's CEO in 2024 after more than a decade at the company, sat down with this editor on the rooftop deck of his Beverly Hills hotel Tuesday morning ahead of his appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference. Dressed in a blue suit and white shirt, he was relaxed — even when the conversation turned to the rivals.