Multinationals are uniting to install a new chip factory in France, with the aim of supplying the shortage of semiconductors that has been impacting thousands of companies
The multinational GlobalFoundries and the Franco-Italian STMicroelectronics, one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world, are teaming up to build a new factory in France. With interest in the project and with the objective of supplying semiconductor shortages, the government of France will provide subsidies for this realization.
New semiconductor factory for multinationals promises to generate more than 1 jobs
Based in Crolles, in the south east of the European country, the facility is to be jointly operated by the two companies, while receiving essential public financial support from France.
The investment of multinationals and the government to supply the scarcity of semiconductors is estimated at a total of more than US$ 5,7 billion, which in direct conversion is equivalent to R$ 30 billion. There are no details of how the division of the amounts that will be invested will be for each of those involved.
The estimate is that the new semiconductor factory will be inaugurated by 2026, generating more than 1 empregos, concentrating its activities on the automotive, industrial and communications sectors. The unity of multinationals also supports a movement by the European Union to become less dependent on other markets around the world, mainly in relation to technologies.
Government is looking for an integrated supply chain
According to the CEO of GlobalFoundries, Thomas Caulfield, his company's participation in the new factory to mitigate the shortage of semiconductors should contribute to the security of the supply chain for its customers, also making it clear that the support of the government of France was essential. This is in a scenario where several current chip makers are headquartered in East Asia.
Global scarcity and the pandemic have also fostered State policy measures in search of a more globally integrated supply chain. For example, as occurred earlier this year, when the European Union presented plans to invest around US$ 49 billion in order to boost research and production of European chips.
In March, Intel announced its growth plan based on an investment of US$ 88 billion in Europe, focusing on the production of advanced chips in Germany.
The company is also building a new factory in Ohio, in the United States, saying that the pace and scope of these plans depend on how quickly Congress allocates about $52 billion in funding to expand chip production in the country, including in R&D.
Tesla plans to invest in new semiconductor factory
A semiconductor chip crisis has generated impacts on several multinationals, so much so that not even the multibillionaire, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, escaped this problem.
Made of silicon or germanium, the use of semiconductors in factories is very important, as they have electrical conductivity between insulators and conductors, something essential for the operation of vehicles, telephones, computers and cell phones.
In a meeting with the Minister of Communications, Fábio Faria, in November last year, Elon Musk stated that, to escape the microchip crisis, which is taking place around the world, there may be no choice but to invest in a new semiconductor factory. Brazil would be one of the likely countries to receive Elon Musk's investment.
The subject arose after the minister proposed the construction of a new Tesla factory in Brazil and also mentioned that he wanted to transform the country into an important producer of chips, as was the case until the 80s.
