The company will play a key role in shaping the continent's digital future

Intel invests $36 billion in computer chip factories in Europe

Intel currently employs 10,000 people in Europe.

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Intel Corporation, the giant computer chip maker, announced that it will invest $36 billion to establish new semiconductor manufacturing plants and research facilities in Europe, to continue the company's efforts to support Western production of these components that are vital to national and economic security.

The announcement comes weeks after Intel revealed its plans to invest at least $20 million to build a new, massive production site near Columbus in Ohio, USA.

Intel's plans

The European Intel plan includes building two factories in Magdeburg, which lies between Berlin and Hanover in Germany.

And "Intel" will double its factories located in Ireland, at a time when negotiations are currently underway with Italian officials over a possible site to establish a factory.

In terms of research, "Intel" plans to establish a new European center near the "Plateau de Sclay" in the southwestern suburbs of the French capital, Paris, and will also establish a joint laboratory for supercomputing in Barcelona, ​​Spain, and expand its research facility, which is currently located in Poland.

"We are committed to playing a key role in shaping Europe's digital future over the coming decades," said Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger.

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A global shortage of computer chips hampered the worldwide PC industry in 2021, prompting companies and governments to expand chip production.

The rising tension between the United States and China has also encouraged investment efforts, given that governments of Western countries are concerned about the security of computer chips supplies from Asia, as 75% of computer chips are produced in East Asia, and about 90% of the most advanced chips are in Taiwan. .

Both the United States and the European Union aim to provide billions of dollars in subsidies to the chip industry, although US support in Congress has been delayed.

Jobs

Intel currently employs 10,000 people in Europe, at a time when the new investments will provide 3,000 jobs in advanced technology in Germany, 1,000 jobs in France, 1,500 jobs in Italy, in addition to about 1,000 jobs in construction and supply companies, according to the report. What Intel said.

German Chancellor Olaf Schulz said Germany welcomes "Intel" and the important investment it plans to make.

The need for Intel's new time and investment in Europe and Ohio will not immediately alleviate the shortage of computer chips, given that it takes years to build factories.

The construction of the German site is expected to begin in the first half of 2023, while production will start in 2027, according to Intel, which said that its investment plans in Europe total 33 billion euros ($36 billion), but could rise to up to €80 billion over the next decade, if the company chooses to continue expanding.