The facility is expected to open in 2027, with some 2,000 new jobs, and will work closely with Intel's intended USD 17 billion manufacturing plant in Magdeburg, Germany, which is due to open at the same time, Poland's interia.pl website reported on Sunday.
The project, unveiled in June, is part of Intel's strategic expansion in Europe, aimed at boosting its semiconductor production capabilities. The Wrocław facility, set to open in 2027, is Intel's response to increasing global demand for semiconductors, a market estimated to be worth around USD 1 trillion by 2030, according to management consulting firm McKinsey.
Intel's decision to choose Poland highlights the country's robust infrastructure, talent pool, and proximity to its other European operations including its existing wafer fabrication facility in Leixlip, Ireland and the planned Magdeburg wafer fabrication plant.
Intel's investment in Poland is a key step in the EU's and the United States' efforts to reclaim their semiconductor market share, which has declined significantly since the 1990s due to Asia's growing market dominance.
The project is a major step forward for Europe's ambition to increase the EU's share in the global semiconductor value chain from the current 9 percent to 20 percent by 2030. The semiconductor industry is crucial for advancement of modern technology since it is central to the production of a multitude of devices, from phones to appliances.
Intel has been active in Poland for 30 years. Its largest European R&D center is located in the northern port city of Gdańsk. The new facility in Wrocław will complete the semiconductor supply chain in Europe, emphasizing assembly, a critical final production stage.
Despite its potential, the project has faced criticism, being labeled as another "assembly plant" for Western technology. Intel Poland has, however, received funding of over PLN 57 million (around USD 14.5 million) from the European Regional Development Fund to create an R&D center aimed at increasing the efficiency of data center infrastructure and enhancing artificial intelligence capabilities.
Intel's global strategy, led by CEO Pat Gelsinger, involves multi-billion-dollar investments in factories across three continents to compete with rivals such as AMD, Nvidia, and Samsung. The new facility in Poland is a crucial part of this strategy, symbolizing a broader push to bring semiconductor production back to Europe and the United States.
The investment by Intel marks a significant milestone in Poland's economic landscape and the global semiconductor industry, positioning the country as a key player in this vital technology sector.
(rt/gs)
Source: interia.pl