GlobalFoundries (GF) has announced a significant investment of 1.1 billion euros (approximately 1.27 billion US dollars) to expand its manufacturing capacity at its Dresden, Germany facility. Dubbed "Project SPRINT," this strategic move aims to boost the annual production capacity to over one million wafers by the end of 2028, solidifying the site's status as one of Europe's largest and most advanced semiconductor manufacturing hubs.
The expansion is strategically aligned with the objectives of the European Chips Act, receiving expected support from the German federal government and the State of Saxony. The full approval from the European Union is anticipated later in 2025. This collaboration underscores a continent-wide commitment to strengthening the semiconductor supply chain, reducing external dependencies, and addressing stringent security requirements within Europe.
The additional capacity will concentrate on GlobalFoundries' differentiated technologies, which are crucial for the next generation of computing. These technologies include chips with features such as low-power consumption, embedded secure memory, and wireless connectivity. These capabilities are indispensable for key high-growth sectors, particularly the automotive industry, the Internet of Things (IoT), defense systems, and critical infrastructure. By scaling up this production, GF is directly helping to meet Europe's accelerating demand for locally-sourced, secure, and energy-efficient semiconductor solutions, further supporting innovation in fields like next-generation computing and quantum technology.
