5.7 billion euros of investment for a semiconductor site near Grenoble

Semiconductors are essential for the manufacture of cars, game consoles and computers. Europe lacks it, because it only produces 8%, compared to 80% in Asia. To make up for the delay, the Franco-Italian STMicroelectronics and the American GlobalFoundries will build a new factory in Grenoble (Isère). Investment amount? 5.7 billion euros. “The largest industrial investment in recent decades, excluding nuclear”commented on the morning of Monday July 11 Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of the Economy.

The employees of the French manufacturer are delighted with the news. Will the investment make it possible to catch up with the world leader, the Taiwanese TSMC? It produces more than half of the most efficient semiconductors, which equip data centers. “These plans are below the level that Taiwan can invest, or the United States“, estimates Aymeric Mougeot, engineer at STMicroelectronics and elected CGT. For the experts of the sector, it is nevertheless a first step which makes it possible to reinforce the industrial activity.