In March, Silicon Box, a semiconductor company headquartered in Singapore, announced a 3.2 billion euro investment to establish a new chip factory in Novara, Piedmont. This news was welcomed by Adolfo Urso, the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, who believes that Italy has the potential to become a key production hub for microelectronics in Europe and globally.
Silicon Box’s investment is expected to create 1600 qualified jobs and will be the first European chiplet production plant. However, state financing approval for a portion of the investment from the European Union is currently pending. The Italian government’s strategy aims to encourage large production investments in Italy, strengthen industrial research, and foster relationships with like-minded countries in order to enhance the country’s competitive advantage.
In addition to Silicon Box’s investment, other foreign companies have also shown interest in investing in Italy’s microchip manufacturing sector. StMicroelectronics invested 5 billion euros in Catania, while Aixtron and SiPearl also made significant investments. The European Commission also provided financial support to the Etna Valley project. These investments are contributing to Italy’s position as a leading European microchip manufacturer.
Italy’s collaboration within the G7 Contact Group on chips further emphasizes its commitment to advancing its technological capabilities in various sectors. With these investments and collaborations, Italy is well on its way to becoming a major player in the global microelectronics industry.
