Advancing domestic chip manufacturing under the CHIPS Act, the US has granted $406M to Taiwan’s GlobalWafers for Texas and Missouri wafer plants, creating 2500 jobs.
The US Commerce Department has finalised $406 million in grants for Taiwan’s GlobalWafers to enhance silicon wafer production in Texas and Missouri. This funding is aimed at supporting the first large-scale US production of 300-mm wafers and essential components for advanced semiconductors.
The grants will support GlobalWafers’ nearly $4 billion investment in building new manufacturing facilities, generating 1700 construction jobs and 880 permanent positions.
The company plans to produce wafers for a range of chips, including cutting-edge, mature-node, and memory chips, in Sherman, Texas. Additionally, wafers for defence and aerospace chips will be manufactured in St. Peters, Missouri.
GlobalWafers’ CEO Doris Hsu expressed optimism about partnering with US-based customers, emphasising long-term collaboration. The company aims to diversify production, as the global 300-mm silicon wafer market is currently dominated by just five companies, with production concentrated mainly in East Asia.
This funding is part of the $52.7 billion CHIPS and Science Act, designed by the Biden administration to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing. It follows recent major grants, such as $6.165 billion for Micron Technology and significant subsidies for Intel, TSMC, and GlobalFoundries.
This initiative aligns with the US government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor manufacturing, especially in light of global supply chain disruptions, right before President-Elect Trump swarms into office.
