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Intel boss Gelsinger: Strong incentives for companies in all sectors
Photo: JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS
The USA and Europe have a common interest: fewer computer chips from the Far East, less dependence on long supply chains.
Where exactly the semiconductors should be manufactured instead, opinions differ again.
The US government is now providing such strong incentives for companies in all sectors to build new production facilities in North America that many are also concerned about projects that are already planned in Europe.
About the so-called mega factory Magdeburg, where the chip manufacturer Intel wants to produce processors of the next generation - in Germany, in the structurally weak East, which could use such an investment.
Intel boss Pat Gelsinger has now given the all-clear at the Davos World Economic Forum for the time being: "The project is making progress," the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" quoted him as saying.
His board colleague Keyvan Esfarjani said there were no fundamental delays: "Overall, we are on schedule."
Two weeks ago, the US chip manufacturer again announced its investment plans in Magdeburg.
"We remain committed to this project," said a company spokesman.
They are working with the German government to make it a success.
Reports had previously emerged that the start of construction, originally planned for the first half of 2023, could be delayed.
The company confirmed in December that higher construction and energy costs would affect the settlement.
The increase in energy costs in Germany and in Europe is "a problem".
However, the Federal Ministry of Economics has not yet planned to increase funding.
In March 2022, Intel announced that the latest generation of chips would be produced in Magdeburg from 2027.
In a first expansion stage, two semiconductor factories are to be built, which could create several thousand jobs.
The purchase agreement between the city and the company for the property was signed in November.
In order to compensate for competitive disadvantages compared to other regions, politicians had promised billions in funding.
For this, however, the EU must change the legal framework, which could take a few more months.
mamk/mik/dpa-AFX