ASML Pumps €1.3B into European AI Powerhouse, Mistral
Dutch semiconductor titan, ASML, has made a monumental €1.3 billion investment in France’s Mistral AI, marking the largest funding round in European AI history. This investment secures ASML an 11% stake in Mistral, making it the company’s largest shareholder as part of a €1.7 billion Series C funding round.
The partnership, announced on September 9, 2025, values Mistral at a staggering €11.7 billion, crowning it as Europe’s most valuable AI company. The collaboration aims to weave Mistral’s AI capabilities into ASML’s chip manufacturing equipment, potentially revolutionizing the efficiency of semiconductor production.
“The collaboration between Mistral AI and ASML aims to generate clear benefits for ASML customers through innovative products and solutions enabled by AI,” said ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet.
This investment represents a strategic move to bolster European technological sovereignty and reduce dependence on US and Chinese AI ecosystems.
Mistral, founded in 2023 by former DeepMind and Meta researchers, has swiftly positioned itself as Europe’s answer to OpenAI and other American AI giants. The French startup develops open-source large language models optimized for multilingual applications and enterprise use.
Source: CNBC