Intel announced that it has selected an area near Wrocław, Poland, as the site of a new cutting-edge semiconductor assembly and test facility. This facility will help meet critical demand for assembly and test capacity that Intel anticipates by 2027. Intel expects to invest up to $4.6 billion in the facility, which will have the capacity to expand. When completed, the facility will support approximately 2,000 Intel employees. The construction of the facility is also expected to create several thousand more jobs, in addition to eventual hiring by suppliers. Design and planning for the facility will begin immediately, with construction to commence pending European Commission approval.
Intel’s planned investment in Poland, combined with its existing wafer fabrication facility in Leixlip, Ireland, and its planned wafer fabrication facility in Magdeburg, Germany, will help create a first-of-its-kind end-to-end leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing value chain in Europe. It will also serve as a catalyst for additional ecosystem investments and innovation in Poland and across the European Union.
“Poland is already home to Intel operations and is well positioned to work with Intel sites in Germany and Ireland. It is also very cost-competitive with other manufacturing locations globally and offers a great talent base that we are excited to help to grow,” said Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger. “We’re grateful for the support from Poland as we work to grow the local semiconductor ecosystem and contribute to the EU‘s goal of creating a more resilient and sustainable semiconductor supply chain.”
CIO INFLUENCE: CIO Influence Interview with Russ Ernst, Chief Technology Officer at Blancco
Mateusz Morawiecki, prime minister of Poland, said, “We are pleased that the largest greenfield investment in the history of Poland is being led by Intel, a Silicon Valley legend known for its innovation. Chips and semiconductors are critical technologies in the 21st century and we are excited to expand Poland‘s role in the global semiconductor supply chain and help to establish the country as an economic trendsetter.”
Next Building Block of a Pan-European Semiconductor Ecosystem
Poland was chosen as the location for the new site for several reasons, including its infrastructure, strong talent base and excellent business environment. The new site is also well positioned to work with Intel’s leading-edge wafer fabrication site planned for Germany and its existing leading-edge wafer fabrication site in Ireland. This proximity will enable close collaboration between the three manufacturing sites and help increase resilience and cost efficiency of the European semiconductor supply chain.
Wafer fabrication facilities (also known as “fabs”) create chips on silicon wafers through various advanced chemical, mechanical and optical processes. Assembly and test facilities, such as the one planned near Wrocław, receive completed wafers from fabs, cut them into individual chips, assemble them into final products and test them for performance and quality. The finished chips are then shipped to customers.In addition to completed wafers, the facility will also be able to accept individual chips and assemble them into final products.The facility will be able to accept wafers and chips from Intel, Intel Foundry Services or other foundries.
CIO INFLUENCE: CIO Influence Interview with Bill Lobig, VP of Product Management at IBM Automation
The well-paid permanent jobs that the facility creates will range from engineers and business support functions to factory operators and equipment technicians. Poland offers a strong technical talent base and several excellent universities with strong engineering programs. This strong workforce and talent base has been critical to Intel’s 30 years of operation in Poland, including its significant research and development operations in Gdańsk, the company’s largest R&D facility in Europe with nearly 4,000 workers.
A Resilient and Sustainable Semiconductor Supply Chain for Europe
Recent global disruptions show the critical need to build a more resilient supply chain for semiconductors.Intel supports the European Union’s goal to reclaim 20 percent of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity by 2030 and is investing in a global semiconductor supply chain that is resilient and geographically balanced.Intel’s investments in Poland and in Europe can act as a catalyst for further investments by ecosystem companies and for building and attracting the talent needed to support a thriving European semiconductor industry.
Intel is committed to sustainability and will adhere to high environmental standards across its global operations and its European operations, including at the planned facility near Wrocław. This facility will be constructed according to green building principles, minimizing its carbon footprint and the impact on the environment.
CIO INFLUENCE: CIO Influence Interview with Antoine Jebara, Co-Founder and GM, MSP Products at JumpCloud
[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com]
