ASML, Europe’s leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer, has made a strategic investment in French artificial intelligence startup Mistral, valuing the company at approximately $13.8 billion. The deal not only strengthens ties between two of the continent’s top tech players but also underscores Europe’s ambitions to compete in the global AI race, traditionally dominated by Silicon Valley firms.
The investment places Mistral’s valuation at €11.7 billion ($13.76 billion), more than doubling its worth since its previous fundraising round just a year ago. Founded in 2023, Mistral has quickly gained prominence for its development of open-weight large language models, positioning itself as a European alternative to U.S. AI leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic.
In addition to the financial stake, ASML and Mistral have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating AI capabilities across the semiconductor industry. While specific terms of the investment were not disclosed, the partnership is expected to explore the use of AI in chip design, manufacturing optimization, and advanced computing applications.
The move marks a significant step in Europe’s effort to retain homegrown innovation and technological competitiveness. As AI continues to drive demand for advanced chips and computing infrastructure, the collaboration between ASML and Mistral could help bridge the gap between semiconductor hardware and next-generation AI models.
ASML, headquartered in the Netherlands, is best known for its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, critical to producing cutting-edge microchips used by the world’s top chipmakers. Its support of Mistral suggests a growing interest in applying AI to improve chip development, which could yield faster, more efficient manufacturing processes.
For Mistral, the backing from ASML brings not only funding but also increased credibility within both the AI and broader tech ecosystems. The startup is part of a wave of European AI companies seeking to assert independence from U.S. tech dominance, focusing on open, transparent development of AI tools.
This investment comes amid broader regulatory and industrial efforts across the EU to secure strategic technologies and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. By combining ASML’s hardware leadership with Mistral’s AI innovation, the deal signals a new phase of European cooperation in tech.
As the global AI landscape continues to evolve rapidly, the ASML-Mistral partnership may become a cornerstone of Europe’s strategy to shape the future of artificial intelligence and advanced computing on its own terms.
