U.S. semiconductor toolmaker Applied Materials Inc announced on Monday that it plans to spend $4 billion on the construction of a research center in Silicon Valley that will be used to accelerate semiconductor manufacturing activities.
The world’s biggest maker of tools used for chip manufacturing, Applied Materials aims to have the facility up and running in 2026. It is expected to handle $25 billion worth of research work during its first decade of operation, creating 2,000 jobs in the process.
During its inaugural decade of operation, the Sunnyvale, California-based research center is expected to bring in staff from research universities and major chipmakers alike, including the likes of Intel Corp, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.
Called the Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization (EPIC) Center, the new facility is set to be the size of more than three American football fields. Applied Materials plans to invest in the facility over the next seven years in addition to applying for subsidies from the government through the CHIPS and Science Act.