Intel is open to a factory in Europe and is looking specifically at the Benelux and Germany. But it wants to receive 8 billion in public subsidies for that. That said, CEO Pat Gelsinger in an interview with Politico Europe on Friday.
Without support from the US and European governments, it is more attractive to open a factory in Asia, Gelsinger said.
Gelsinger spoke to European Commissioner Thierry Breton in Brussels on Friday about the production of chips. There is a worldwide shortage of this due to the increased demand for chips from car companies and makers of mobile phones.
In addition to an investment of 20 billion in the United States, Gelsinger envisions a chip factory in Europe. This should contribute to Breton mission to double Europe’s share of global chip production to 20 percent in the next decade.
In a conversation with the German Minister of Economy and Energy Peter Altmaier, Gelsinger hinted at Germany and the Benelux countries as possible locations for a new chip factory. “If you settle in Europe, you want to do it geopolitically on the European mainland,” he said.
During his visit to Germany, Gelsinger also met representatives from BMW and telephone company Deutsche Telekom. He also reportedly visited Volkswagen headquarters, but an Intel spokesman was unable to confirm.