GlobalWafers Italian 12-Inch Wafer Plant to Get €103M Aid

On June 18, GlobalWafers, a leading semiconductor wafer manufacturer, announced that its Italian subsidiary, MEMC S.p.A., will receive approximately €103 million in funding from the European Commission and the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy for its expansion plans.

The €103 million grant supports the EU's "Important Projects of Common European Interest on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies" (IPCEI-ME/CT) initiative. This funding is designed to bolster the development, innovation, and industrial growth of the microelectronics and communication technology sectors throughout the European Union.

In March 2022, GlobalWafers unveiled a comprehensive capital expenditure plan of NT$100 billion (approximately $3.6 billion) for the year. This investment focuses on expanding the production capacity of 12-inch semiconductor silicon wafers and compound semiconductors across Asia, Europe, and the United States. This includes constructing new facilities and upgrading existing ones. Specifically, MEMC S.p.A. will establish a new 12-inch semiconductor silicon wafer production line.

Previously, GlobalWafers highlighted that this investment had garnered robust support from European clients and received government subsidies under the IPCEI-ME/CT framework. The new production line, set to be operational in the second half of 2023, will specialize in producing 12-inch polished and epitaxial wafers.

The latest announcement from GlobalWafers confirms that, following approval from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition, the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy will provide up to €103 million in research and development grants to MEMC S.p.A. This substantial funding will facilitate the creation of Europe's most advanced 12-inch semiconductor wafer manufacturing plant. Given the current high dependency on imports for advanced wafers, this new MEMC S.p.A. facility aims to significantly reduce this reliance.

Marco Sciamanna, General Manager of MEMC S.p.A., stated that the new 12-inch wafer plant will support the IPCEI-ME/CT initiative’s focus on advancing downstream products in four key high-tech areas: sensors, logic components, power electronics, and communication elements. He expressed pride in being one of the 56 companies selected for this initiative and noted that MEMC S.p.A. is uniquely positioned to make significant contributions in all four areas.

Doris Hsu, Chairman of GlobalWafers, remarked that in today's era of regional economic strategies, the EU and Italian government have strategically prioritized the semiconductor and high-tech industries for investment to enhance resilience. The new 12-inch wafer plant by MEMC S.p.A. aligns perfectly with the European Commission's standards for cutting-edge research and development and leading industrial deployment.