China spent $41B trying to copy this Dutch technology.
They failed miserably.
Now a tiny town in the Netherlands controls the:
• Future of AI
• US-China tech war
• Every advanced military system
The untold story of how ASML became the most critical company in tech 🧵:
First, let's understand what makes ASML special:
• They make machines that make computer chips
• Closest competitor is 10+ years behind
• Complete monopoly on advanced chip tech
• Every major tech company depends on them
But here's what makes this story fascinating...
ASML started in 1984 as a joint venture between Phillips and ASM International.
For years, they were just another equipment maker.
Then something changed everything:
Researchers realized we were hitting the limits of chip manufacturing.