The automotive industry is one of the most important nationwide. With the semiconductor crisis that is taking place, Spain has also wanted to advance in this aspect and manufacture their own microchips so that there is no shortage in the production chain. However, some companies have chosen to settle in other countries such as Germany and the United States. The national response has been focus on producing simpler chipsbut equally necessary, to attract investors.
The initial plan was to make state-of-the-art microchips for automobiles. However, given the lack of candidates to carry it out, it seems that we will settle for the production of mid-range semiconductors, with chips between 10 nanometers and 28 nanometers. There is a growing demand worldwide and it could be an opportunity for the industry. The Government is reserving aid worth €12.3 billion for companies that are going to carry out this activity in our country.
With this, Spain intends to become one of the main producers of the European Union and contribute so that the continent can reach 20% of the world production of semiconductors by the end of the decade. The truth is that the first strategic plan was dedicated to chips of less than 5 nanometers, which are the most advanced and whose facilities require a larger investment. Giants like Intel chose to put their facilities in other countries like Germany and some other big ones dismissed Spain due to the greater subsidies from the United States.
Now with the plan of 12,300 million euros you want to attract investment, but with the mid-range semiconductors, which are also needed for automobile production. Spain has already reached an agreement with Cisco Systems, which will set up a chip design center in Barcelona and is looking for other large ones to establish themselves in national territory. It is already talked about Samsung Electronics it is looking for potential destinations in Europe and the Government wants them to come here, although there are others such as the Netherlands that have also tempted the Korean giant.
Source: Automotive News
