December 19, 2024 /SemiMedia/ — GlobalWafers, a leading semiconductor silicon wafer manufacturer, announced that its US subsidiaries, GlobalWafers America (GWA) and MEMC LLC (MEMC), will receive up to $406 million (approximately NT$13.2 billion) in direct subsidies. These funds, granted under the US CHIPS and Science Act, aim to support new production capacity slated to commence in 2025.

Chairwoman Doris Hsu stated that the subsidy will bolster the company’s $4 billion investment in advanced semiconductor wafer plants located in Sherman, Texas, and St. Peters, Missouri. The US Department of Commerce plans to distribute the funds in phases over several years.

According to GlobalWafers, GWA will become the first manufacturing facility in the US to mass-produce 12-inch advanced silicon wafers by mid-2025. Simultaneously, MEMC will begin producing 12-inch silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. These wafers are critical components in the semiconductor ecosystem and serve as essential substrates for all chip manufacturing.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted that this investment will provide the foundational materials needed for advanced chip production, reinforcing the country’s innovation and competitiveness globally. White House National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard emphasized that GlobalWafers’ establishment of silicon wafer production facilities marks a significant step toward building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem in the United States.