ASML supports European leading-edge fab

ASML CEO Peter Wennink supports the ambitions of the European Commission and EU member states to (re-)establish cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing on European soil. Speaking at a press conference alongside European Commissioner Thierry Breton and Imec CEO Luc Van den hove, Wennink said building leading-edge fabs in Europe makes strategic and economic sense.

Previously, Wennink didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic about the idea. “Wanting to build a factory for 2nm chips in Europe is the same as saying you want to build a rocket to send people to the moon,” he told Politico. That statement referred to Europe building the fab without any outside help, he clarified. When the goal is accomplished by partnering up with a chipmaker such as Intel or TSMC, as Breton intends to, the endeavor has the blessing of ASML’s top executive.