Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, left, C.C. Wei, chief executive officer ... [+]
Europe took a significant step forward in the effort to secure and maintain its technological sovereignty, earlier this week, when the European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) – a joint venture between TSMC, Robert Bosch GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG, and NXP Semiconductors N.V. – officially broke ground on its first semiconductor fab in Dresden, Germany.
The new large-scale manufacturing facility will deliver high-performance chips based on 300mm silicon wafers with node sizes covering 28/22 nanometers and 16/12nm, using field-effect transistor (FinFET) technology. This advanced process allows for the integration of several additional features in one chip, offering better performance while simultaneously reducing total power consumption.
High-profile figures, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, attended the ceremony, underscoring the project's strategic importance.
Von der Leyen announced the European Commission's approval of a €5 billion German measure to support the venture, while TSMC Chairman & CEO C.C. Wei emphasized the facility's role in meeting the growing semiconductor demands of Europe's automotive and industrial sectors.
The fab, expected to have a monthly production capacity of 40,000 300mm wafers using advanced 28/22nm and 16/12nm process technologies, represents a total investment exceeding €10 billion.
The facility aims to produce 480,000 wafers annually. While not at the bleeding edge of semiconductor technology, these nodes are crucial for automotive and industrial applications, areas where Europe aims to maintain leadership.
It will operate as an open foundry, allowing various customers to place orders, including European SMEs and startups, which will benefit from dedicated support.
Beyond its technological implications, the project promises significant economic benefits. ESMC anticipates creating around 2,000 direct high-tech jobs, with additional indirect employment opportunities throughout the EU supply chain.
And, of course, there's the geopolitical element to consider: given the uncertainty surrounding political tensions between Taiwan and China, it's important for Europe to reduce dependence on foreign facilities to avoid being cut off in case of conflict.
Though, it should be noted, European partners will hold only a 30% stake in the joint venture that will build the Dresden facility, while the rest will remain in Taiwanese hands.
Moreover, building a facility based on foreign technology and know-how is one thing; replicating the same kind of efficiency of the original environment is quite another.
The many challenges faced by TSMC's Arizona chip fab project illustrate how Confucian work ethics, long hours, and strict hierarchy often do not sit well with Western workers. Unions in Germany are among the strongest in the world, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
As Europe celebrates this milestone, it must also reckon with the realities of the global semiconductor landscape. The United States, with its CHIPS Act, and China, with its massive investments in chip technology, are making rapid advancements.
Right now, the continent's largest chip project – Intel's planned €33 billion factory in Magdeburg – faces delays and uncertainty. With €10 billion in state aid still awaiting Brussels' approval and Intel's recent financial struggles, the project's timeline remains unclear: construction was supposed to start in the first half of 2023, but it has now been pushed back to May 2025 at the earliest.
Europe's ability to implement its ambitious projects quickly and effectively will be a key factor in determining its future role in the global semiconductor industry.
The stakes are high, but so are the rewards.