The chip maker is reported to be lobbying to win financial and political support for its project.
Intel’s planned investment in a new European semiconductor facility could be spread across several EU countries if it wins the backing it is seeking.
The Financial Times [subscrition needed] reports that Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, met French the French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian prime minister Mario Draghi to discuss the global chip shortage that has hit industries around the globe.
Apparently the visit was made after signals from the European Union that substantial sums could be made available to help the bloc meet a new target to double semiconductor production to 20% of the global market by 2030, including making the most advanced chips.
Intel has plans to invest $20 billion in two new factories in the US and a further $7 billion (€5.9 billion) to double the capacity of its Leixlip plant in Co Kildare, Ireland, including bringing its most advanced d 7 nanometre (nm) chip production to its Leixlip site.
Greg Slater, Intel VP of Global Regulatory Affairs told the Financial Times, “We could put manufacturing on one site and packaging on another.” Research and development could also be shared across EU countries, while spending with European suppliers would increase “dramatically”.
He said the company is “well placed to make this an ecosystem-wide project, not just a couple of isolated paths in one member state. We do believe that this is a project that will benefit Europe at large”.