Chipmaker Intel has reached out to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company regarding investments in production or collaborations, as per reports.

Intel's attempts to secure external investment started prior to U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in the company last month, according to WSJ, but have intensified since the U.S. acquired a 10 percent share in it.

Nvidia revealed last week that it plans to invest $5 billion in Intel for an approximate 4 percent ownership in the firm.

The chip manufacturer received a $2 billion financial boost from SoftBank Group in August.
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has been working to acquire partners in an effort to revitalize the struggling chip manufacturer.

Once the leader in the chip industry that asserted it brought the "silicon" to Silicon Valley, Intel has faced challenges in the flourishing AI competition, lagging behind rivals like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices.

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Intel has put billions into establishing a contract manufacturing division that has faced challenges in competing with TSMC and has only managed to draw a few external clients.

In April, the Information reported that the two companies had talked about a preliminary deal to establish a joint venture, with TSMC acquiring a 20 percent ownership in the new firm.

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Intel Corp. has contacted Apple Inc. to discuss acquiring an investment in the struggling chipmaker, as part of initiatives to strengthen a business that is currently partially government-owned.

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Apple and Intel have also talked about ways to collaborate more closely. The discussions are in initial phases and might not result in a deal, according to reports.