GlobalWafers has inaugurated its FAB300 plant in Novara, Italy—the country’s first 12-inch silicon wafer production line and one of Europe’s most advanced integrated wafer facilities. The project represents a key step in strengthening the region’s semiconductor ecosystem.
With a total investment of €450 million, the facility also received €103 million in R&D funding via the EU’s IPCEI-ME/CT program. It will produce 12-inch polished and epitaxial wafers, with future plans to expand into SOI and silicon carbide for sensors and power devices. At full capacity, it will output 1.2 million wafers annually.
The opening follows GlobalWafers’ Sherman, Texas plant launch five months ago. Located near key European customers like STMicroelectronics and Infineon, the fab supports shorter supply chains and aligns with the EU Chips Act goal of doubling the bloc’s global semiconductor market share by 2030.
ICgoodFind Summary: GlobalWafers’ Italian fab enhances European supply chain resilience, with high-value production capacity poised to support regional chip ambitions.
