The European Commission approved funding for a semiconductor manufacturing facility for AMS Osram under the European Chips Act. The official funding approval from the Austrian Ministry of Economy and Labor, which is responsible for the payment of the funding, is now expected shortly. The company plans to use the funding of up to 227 million euros approved by the European Commission to sustainably strengthen the development and production site in Premstaetten, South-East Austria. In total, the company plans to invest 567 million euros in the project by 2030, when full production will begin at the headquarters in Styria.

The new plant at the production site in Premstaetten is intended to further expand the leading role of the Austrian semiconductor industry. In the future, the semiconductor manufacturing facility will produce highly differentiated next-generation optoelectronic sensors that are qualified for applications in medical technology and the automotive industry. In addition, the production of products for industry or for use in consumer goods is planned. It combines outstanding technologies – CMOS, filter, and through silicon vias (TSV) – and works according to a toolbox concept. 

Depending on the product, the different capabilities can be combined individually as required for energy-efficient products for imaging and optoelectronics with a reduced form factor, more functions on a single component and outstanding electrical performance. The construction of the additional cleanroom at the Premstaetten site, with an area of 1,800 square meters for CMOS production, will also double filter capacity and increase TSV capacity by a factor of four.

In view of the global situation in the semiconductor market, it is clear how important it is to invest in innovative key technologies for the future. That is why the European Commission has set itself the goal of promoting the mass production of semiconductors in Europe and increasing the global market share to twenty percent of production by 2030. In addition, new chip technologies for the next generation are to be made possible. The European Chips Act was created for this purpose. The investment of AMS Osram will help to strengthen European sovereignty in semiconductor production and digitalization. It will also make an important contribution to the green transition.