STMicroelectronics has committed 80% of the investments for its Crolles megafab, the Liberty project run jointly with American foundry GlobalFoundries. Announced by President Macron in 2022, the initiative aims to double France’s semiconductor production capacity and is a flagship of the country’s push for chip sovereignty under the European Chips Act. The progress update comes as the project faces scrutiny from the Cour des comptes, France’s supreme audit institution, which is examining the public-private venture. While details of the audit’s scope remain undisclosed, the company’s assertion that the vast majority of investments are already locked in suggests that construction and equipment orders are well advanced, potentially insulating the project from delays tied to administrative reviews. The joint venture, located near Grenoble, is central to France’s ambition to reduce dependence on Asian semiconductor supply chains.

Le projet Liberty, porté conjointement par l’entreprise franco-italienne de semi-conducteurs et par l’américain GlobalFoundries, avait été annoncé par Emmanuel Macron en 2022, avec l’objectif de doubler les capacités de production de puces de la France. Il est aujourd’hui dans le viseur de la Cour des comptes.