Intel Invests $7B in Next-Generation Semiconductor Factory in Arizona

In a joint announcement by newly elected US President Donald Trump and Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at the White House, Intel is investing more than $7 billion USD towards the completion of Fab 42 in Chandler, Arizona; the most advanced next-generation semiconductor factory in the world. The project is estimated to be completed within 3 to 4 years and will create approximately 3,000 jobs for process engineers, equipment technicians, facilities support engineers and more high-tech workers. Approximately 10,000 long-term jobs in total will be created by the plant. Intel’s Fab 42 will produce high volumes of microprocessors for data centers, as well as smart devices using 7nm manufacturing process.

“Intel’s business continues to grow and investment in manufacturing capacity and R&D ensures that the pace of Moore’s law continues to march on, fueling technology innovations the world loves and depends on,” said Krzanich. “This factory will help the U.S. maintain its position as the global leader in the semiconductor industry.”

“Intel is a global manufacturing and technology company, yet we think of ourselves as a leading American innovation enterprise,” Krzanich added. “America has a unique combination of talent, a vibrant business environment and access to global markets, which has enabled U.S. companies like Intel to foster economic growth and innovation. Our factories support jobs — high-wage, high-tech manufacturing jobs that are the economic engines of the states where they are located.”

Intel is the US’ largest high-tech capital expenditure investor with over $5.1 billion in the US alone in 2015 and the third largest investor in research and development worldwide with over $12.1 billion. Intel employs more than 50,000 within the United States alone while tangentially supporting half-a million other jobs in the US across a range of industries.

President Trump announced that this investment is “a great thing for Arizona. We’re very happy and I can tell you the people of Arizona are very happy.” White house press secretary Sean Spicer pointed out that former President Obama visited the same factory during his re-election campaign in 2012 but his policies failed to move the project forward.