STMicroelectronics will integrate over one hundred humanoid robots in its older European chip fabs over the next two years, aiming to replace up to three out of four shifts per unit on repetitive tasks. Thomas Morgenstern demonstrated a robot placing a silicon wafer carrier into a machine, exemplifying the shift toward automation to boost throughput.

The October 2024 restructuring plan includes 5,000 proposed job departures, with new training programs designed to upskill employees for higher-skilled technical roles. By reallocating workers from manual to technical tasks, the company expects to address labor shortages and improve overall operational efficiency.

Many of STMicroelectronics’ older fabs are not upgradeable for modern semiconductor tools, making automation a cost-effective alternative to rebuilding or closing facilities. While EU Chips Act subsidies currently favor first-of-a-kind projects, industry groups are lobbying for refreshed funding to support existing fabs and safeguard Europe’s chip capacity.