GlobalFoundries and STMicroelectronics finalized the agreement for a new 300mm fab in France
STMicroelectronics and GlobalFoundries have previously penned a memorandum of understanding to collaboratively construct a new 300mm wafer fab in the French city of Crolles, adjacent to STMicroelectronics’ existing 300mm wafer factory, adding approximately 1000 new jobs. In a bid to mitigate construction costs through substantial government financial backing, both parties aspire to receive manufacturing subsidies akin to Intel.
GlobalFoundries has declared its collaboration with STMicroelectronics to establish a jointly operated manufacturing plant in Crolles, France, capable of mass production of semiconductor products. The estimated expenditure for this endeavor is around 7.5 billion euros, encompassing capital expenditure, maintenance, and auxiliary costs. This new facility will also benefit from the French government’s financial support, aligning with the objectives stipulated in the “European Chip Act” and serving as a component of the “France 2030” plan. Allegedly, the project will receive a financial subsidy support of 2.9 billion euros.
GlobalFoundries CEO Thomas Caulfield expressed his gratitude to French Minister of Economy and Finance Le Maire and his team for their support and dedication over the past 12 months. Through collaboration with STMicroelectronics, GlobalFoundries is expanding its influence in the European technological ecosystem, benefiting from economies of scale, offering additional capacity in a highly capital-efficient manner, and comprehensively meeting the high demand for automotive, IoT, and mobile applications in the forthcoming decades.
The goal for the new wafer fab is to operate at full capacity by 2026, with an annual production capacity of 620,000 300mm wafers. It will employ a variety of semiconductor manufacturing technologies, such as several based on FD-SOI technology, including GlobalFoundries’ FDX technology and STMicroelectronics’ comprehensive technology roadmap down to 18nm.
