Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) said it has expanded its strategic partnership with the Netherlands-based semiconductor manufacturer ASML, deepening the partnership on high NA EUV lithography and advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies.

The South Korea-based tech company said that under the partnership, it will join an industry initiative to develop a 12-inch photomask platform for High NA EUV, moving beyond the 6-inch format used for decades.

The transition to larger masks is expected to increase fab productivity, lower chipmaking costs, and remove stitching constraints, paving the way for future cost-effective chips.