US finalises more than US$6.1 billion chips subsidy for Micron Technology

THE US Department of Commerce has finalised a subsidy of more than US$6.1 billion for memory chip maker Micron Technology to support the construction of several domestic semiconductor facilities, according to a White House statement on Tuesday (Dec 10).

The investment, unchanged from the amount originally announced in April, marks one of the largest government awards to chip companies under the US CHIPS and Science Act.

It will fund factory projects in New York and Idaho and is expected to create at least 20,000 jobs by the end of the decade.

The commerce department and Micron have also agreed to preliminary terms for an additional investment of US$275 million to expand the chipmaker’s facility in Manassas, Virginia, which primarily manufactures chips sold in the automotive, networking and industrial markets.

The additional investment will help “onshore a critical technology relied upon by our defence industry, automotive sector and national security community”, the White House said.

President Joe Biden’s administration has doubled down on fuelling domestic semiconductor production, seeking to reduce reliance on China and Taiwan. The US has finalised a series of subsidies, including a US$7.86 billion award for Intel and US$6.6 billion for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s US unit.

The final awards come just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, who has criticised the programme, takes office. REUTERS