Dresden attracts multi-billion € investments for chips, cars, IoT
Over the next few years, international technology groups and research institutions will invest around 4.5 billion euros in the Dresden region. The money comes from Bosch, GlobalFoundries, Infineon, the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft research network and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The investments will be used to develop and manufacture state-of-the-art processors, sensors, 5G mobile communications technology, new software tools and IoT platforms.
Silicon Saxony’s economic and technological dynamism is at least partly attributable to the strategy of many European semiconductor companies, which is associated with the slogan “More than Moore”. This keyword describes the strategy of not focusing on the development and manufacturing ever smaller semiconductor structures, in contrast to the major players in the semiconductor industry, but of creatively combining different technologies with each other. This combination leads to technologies and application-oriented chip designs that are in particular high demand for the Internet of Things. “The IOT brings Europe’s semiconductor sector back to the top of the world “, commented Ajit Manocha, President and CEO of the SEMI industry association, in presenting the investments.
The technology company Bosch is one of the major investors. It plans to start constructing a Fab in the Dresden area soon, explained Stefan Finkbeiner, Managing Director of Bosch Sensor Technologies. In the new factory – located in the building of bankrupt memory chip manufacturer Qimonda – Bosch intends to supplement its established MEMS manufacturing facilities with the development and production of ASICs.
However, it is not only semiconductor companies that are developing new high-tech activities in the Dresden area. With Volkswagen, a major customer of the semiconductor industry wants to become even more involved in this region in the future. “Volkswagen will build the electric version of the Golf in Dresden,” explained Lars Dittert, General Manager of Volkswagen’s “Transparent Factory” in that city. Also, VW’s first fully electric car-designed vehicle I. D. Buzz is to leave the production line in Zwickau near Dresden. Production start is scheduled for 2019. In addition, the automaker intends to significantly expand its R&D activities in the electronics / IT sector. “The new priorities are electric drive, AI and connected car”, Dittert made clear.
All these activities have been facilitated or made possible by public funding. “Politics has understood “, Rudger Wijburg, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Globalfoundries Dresden, summed up the results. „that semiconductors are not a purpose in itself, but an enabler for multiple industries, including automotive and IoT.”
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