On October 15 local time, semiconductor wafer giant GlobalWafers officially inaugurated its new 12-inch wafer fab “FAB300” in Novara, Italy. The ceremony was attended by national and local Italian officials, Members of the European Parliament, as well as numerous customers and suppliers. FAB300 is positioned as one of Europe’s most advanced facilities, and among the few with a complete production process from crystal growth to finished wafer. Operated by its subsidiary MEMC Electronic Materials SpA, the fab aims to strengthen local supply chain resilience and better serve European customer needs.
The FAB300 project was approved in February 2022 with a total investment of €450 million. It was later included in the EU’s “Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies,” receiving €103 million in R&D funding support.
GlobalWafers Chairperson Doris Hsu stated: “FAB300 is not just a factory; it is a symbol of innovation, sustainability, and shared growth. It showcases the professionalism, resilience, and outstanding execution of our Italian team, and has earned wide recognition in the European market. For GlobalWafers, customers, technical expertise, and talent have always been at the core of our business development. FAB300 allows us to work more closely with customers, jointly develop cutting-edge technologies, and support their long-term growth strategies, contributing to the advancement of Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem.”
Once fully operational, FAB300 will use the latest automation equipment to produce 12-inch polished and epitaxial wafers, serving applications in advanced logic, memory, power semiconductors, and MEMS/sensors. Together with the crystal growth operations in Merano, GlobalWafers can now offer an integrated solution in Europe—from crystal growth and slicing to polished and epitaxial wafers—shortening supply chains and enhancing delivery flexibility.
FAB300 also integrates green manufacturing practices: it commits to the RE100 initiative with 100% renewable electricity use and aims to achieve approximately 50% water recycling efficiency. The company noted that the new fab not only provides advanced manufacturing capacity but is also expected to create up to 150 professional jobs, strengthening the industrial cluster and talent development in the Piedmont region.
The inauguration follows the opening of GlobalWafers America’s flagship fab in Sherman, Texas, on May 15, reflecting the company’s accelerating global strategy across Asia, Europe, and the United States. GlobalWafers emphasized that 12-inch semiconductor wafers are key materials for both advanced and mature processes as well as memory chips. The launch of FAB300 will further reinforce the company’s role and resilience in the global semiconductor supply chain.