New Silicon Box Semiconductor Plant in Novara to Begin Operations in 2028

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2027 for a major new semiconductor facility in Novara, Italy, with production expected to launch by 2028. The initiative, known as the Vulcan Project, represents a 3.2 billion euro investment that includes 1.3 billion euros in public funding channeled through Invitalia. Located in Agognate, the plant will specialize in advanced back-end packaging and testing of semiconductors.

The facility will be the first of its kind in the European Union, utilizing panel-level advanced packaging technologies that integrate multiple chiplets into a single package. According to Silicon Box, this approach allows companies in artificial intelligence, supercomputing, electric vehicles, robotics, and mobile devices to produce more at lower costs. The project has already received recognition from the European Commission as an Open EU Foundry under the Chips Act.

Government and regional officials highlighted the strategic importance of the development for Italy and Europe. "The Government has placed microelectronics at the center of its industrial priorities, conscious of the decisive role this sector plays," stated Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy. Bernardo Mattarella, Chief Executive Officer of Invitalia, noted that the investment will create approximately 1,600 direct, highly qualified jobs while fostering a broader ecosystem of local suppliers, universities, and research centers.

Regional leadership also praised the cooperative effort behind the project. Piedmont President Alberto Cirio emphasized that hosting the plant confirms the region's strong attractiveness for innovation and skilled labor. Dr. Byung Joon Han, co-founder and CEO of Silicon Box, expressed pride in establishing the company's first international expansion in Europe, stating that Novara will serve as a permanent home for completing the full chip production cycle locally.

Meanwhile, industrial developments elsewhere in Italy face mounting scrutiny from labor unions. At the SiderAlloys aluminum plant in Portovesme, trade unions recently raised concerns regarding equipment being moved off-site following an Integrated Environmental Authorization granted on October 1st. Union representatives expressed fears of potential dismantling amid a stagnant revitalization process, requesting an urgent ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy to clarify equipment inventories and production schedules.

The SiderAlloys site, which previously involved Invitalia acquiring a 20.33 percent stake in December 2018, has seen workforce numbers drop significantly while facing delayed industrial milestones. Union leaders are pressing for explicit documentation and verified timelines regarding plant restructuring and worker re-entry, contrasting the delayed progress in Sardinia with the rapid advancement of the new high-tech semiconductor initiative in Piedmont.