The U.S. Department of Commerce finalized an award of up to $406 million in CHIPS Act funding to GlobalWafers America, LLC (GWA) and MEMC LLC, subsidiaries of Taiwan-based GlobalWafers Co., Ltd. These funds, issued through the CHIPS Incentives Program, will support the development of advanced silicon wafer manufacturing facilities in Texas and Missouri. With a combined investment of nearly $4 billion, these projects aim to establish the first domestic production source of 300mm silicon wafers for advanced semiconductor chips and expand the production of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. The funding will be disbursed upon achieving construction and production milestones.
The GWA facility in Sherman, Texas, will focus on high-volume production of 300mm silicon wafers for advanced semiconductor devices, including memory chips. In O’Fallon, Missouri, the MEMC facility will produce SOI wafers, crucial for defense and aerospace applications. The projects are expected to generate approximately 1,700 construction jobs and 880 manufacturing roles across both locations. As part of the initiative, GlobalWafers also plans to convert a portion of its Texas facility for the production of silicon carbide epitaxy wafers, vital for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.
These investments aim to address the semiconductor industry’s reliance on foreign wafer production while strengthening U.S. supply chains and national security. “The semiconductor wafers produced here will be the foundation for advanced chips that allow us to out-innovate and out-compete globally,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Doris Hsu, Chairperson and CEO of GlobalWafers, expressed gratitude for the partnership, stating, “Through these investments, we look forward to innovating with U.S.-based chip customers for decades to come.”
Key Points
• Funding: $406 million in CHIPS Act funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
• Investment: Nearly $4 billion in total capital expenditure.
• Locations: Sherman, Texas (300mm silicon wafers) and O’Fallon, Missouri (SOI wafers).
• Job Creation: ~1,700 construction jobs and 880 manufacturing jobs.
• Silicon Carbide: Conversion of part of the Texas facility for silicon carbide wafer production.
• Impact: Addresses reliance on foreign wafer production and strengthens domestic supply chains.
