January 13, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — Altera recently raised a flag bearing its name near its headquarters in San Jose, California, symbolizing its formal separation from Intel and its emergence as an independently operated company. Although independent, Altera remains owned by Intel and will focus on more agile FPGA product development while maintaining a strategic partnership with its former parent company.

Specializing in FPGA technology, Altera offers solutions that adapt quickly to changing demands without the high costs of ASIC development. The company aims to strengthen its presence in traditional markets such as automotive, communications, and aerospace while expanding into emerging fields like AI, cloud computing, edge technology, and 6G.

"Today marks the beginning of a new chapter as an independent FPGA company," Altera stated. "We are excited to drive innovation with agility and focus, shaping the future of next-generation FPGA technology."

Despite its independence, Altera plans to continue working closely with Intel's foundries, leveraging advanced production nodes for its chips. Additionally, it retains the freedom to collaborate with other foundries to diversify manufacturing options and enhance competitiveness. If its strategies prove successful, the company may pursue an initial public offering (IPO) in the future.

Intel acquired Altera in 2015 for $16.7 billion, aiming to diversify its revenue streams and bolster its position in data centers. The decision to let Altera operate independently seeks to give the FPGA business greater growth opportunities while positioning Intel to benefit financially from a potential IPO.

Altera will be led by CEO Sandra Rivera and COO Shannon Poulin, who will guide the company into its next phase of development.