The Piedmont Region is ready to host a European semiconductor hub. Silicon Box, a Singapore-based chiplet-based company, has chosen Novara as the location for a new €3.2 billion plant. The project, supported by public funds of about 1.3 billion, provides for the creation of 1,600 direct jobs and aims to strengthen Italy’s presence in the global supply chain of microchips.
The site identified is located in the industrial area of Agognate, near the Novara Ovest motorway exit. The construction site is expected to start in 2025, with the aim of starting production in 2028 and reaching full operation by 2033. The decision is the result of a selection among different areas of Northern Italy, including Lombardy and Veneto, and was made official at the end of June. Silicon Box’s management said they were excited to be able to contribute to the European industrial vision and the strengthening of the local supply chain thanks to this project.
Founded by former Marvell Technology executives, the company specializes in innovative technologies for semiconductor assembly, one of the most strategic and complex stages of the supply chain. Its establishment in the Novara area is part of a broader strategy that aims to make Piedmont a point of reference for the microchip industry in Europe.
Confirming the growing interest in the area, in recent months a delegation of about ten Singaporean companies arrived in Turin, some of which are active in sectors related to electronic manufacturing and microelectronics. Among these, the arrival of a company specializing in the purification of water used in semiconductor industrial processes is also expected.
The initiative is part of the European Chips Act, which aims to double the European Union’s share of global semiconductor production from 10% to 20% by 2030. Piedmont plays a central role in this path also thanks to its presidency, for 2025, of the European Semiconductor Regions Alliance (ESRA), a network that coordinates European territorial efforts in the sector.
The Regional Councillor for Productive Activities Andrea Tronzano participated last May in SEMICON Southeast Asia in Kuala Lumpur, where he illustrated the Piedmontese strategy of attracting investments and declared that Piedmont is today one of the most active territories in Europe in the construction of an integrated semiconductor supply chain, as confirmed by the presence of Silicon Box and the interest of other players who believe in thevalidity and quality of work offered by our region.
