GlobalFoundries announced on Oct. 14, 2026, that it has been selected as the technology provider and operator for two new semiconductor manufacturing facilities at its Malta, New York, site under a U.S.-Japan initiative providing up to USD 21 billion in funding.

A strategic partnership for growth

The initiative is enabled by President Donald J. Trump's trade and investment agreement with Japan, under which Japan will provide the investment while GF contributes its technologies, manufacturing expertise, and operational capabilities.

According to the company, the initiative is intended to accelerate trusted semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, strengthen critical supply chains, and support demand across automotive, industrial, and connected infrastructure markets.

"This is a bold new initiative for semiconductor manufacturing, bringing together the United States and Japan with GF's differentiated technology and decades of manufacturing expertise to accelerate trusted capacity in New York," said Tim Breen, CEO of GlobalFoundries.

"GF was selected because fabs of this scale require more than capital. They require differentiated technology, operational excellence, and a proven ability to execute. That combination is what positions GF to make this first-of-its-kind initiative a success."

First fab targeted for 2029, with a second to follow

An initial investment of approximately USD 10 billion will accelerate construction of a new 300mm semiconductor fab, which is expected to come online in 2029. An additional investment of approximately USD 10 billion would fund a second fab.

Together, the two facilities are expected to add significant new U.S. manufacturing capacity. When fully operational, the first fab is expected to add approximately 900,000 300mm wafers of annual U.S. manufacturing capacity, and a second fab would add approximately the same amount.

The project is expected to create about 27,000 construction and ecosystem jobs and more than 1,000 high-skilled manufacturing jobs in New York's Capital Region.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick framed the announcement as a product of the administration's trade policy. "President Trump's historic U.S.-Japan Trade Deal is delivering another massive manufacturing investment into America," he said.

"With Japan's investment funding and GlobalFoundries' partnership, two large semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities will be built in the U.S., creating thousands of high-paying jobs for American workers. This is how the President's trade agreements result in transformational American industrial assets that strengthen our national and economic security."

Groundbreaking expected later this year

GF expects to break ground on the first fab at its Malta site later this year. The company said the site is permitted and shovel-ready, using existing Malta infrastructure to speed construction. Details of a groundbreaking event will be announced separately.

Grant McEwan, general manager of Fab 8 at GlobalFoundries, pointed to the site's track record. "Since 2009, the people of this site have built one of the nation's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing operations," he said.

"These two great countries entrusting GF to operate two new fabs is a powerful vote of confidence in our workforce, our technology, and New York's Capital Region. With the potential to create thousands of new jobs, we are working with education and workforce partners to build the next generation of semiconductor talent."

Amended CHIPS award redirects USD 955 million to photonics and packaging

In a related move, GF has agreed with the U.S. Department of Commerce to amend its existing CHIPS and Science Act award, reallocating USD 955 million to accelerate the company's investments in silicon photonics, silicon-germanium (SiGe), and advanced packaging at its facilities in Malta, New York, and Burlington, Vermont.

The company said these investments will expand domestic manufacturing capacity for technologies increasingly critical to communications infrastructure and data centers.

In a separate agreement, the U.S. Department of Commerce will receive equity in GF of approximately four percent, which the company said further enables the American public to share in GF's growth.

New York State backing through the Green CHIPS program

New York State continues to support the Capital Region's semiconductor ecosystem through its Green CHIPS program.

Governor Kathy Hochul called the expansion "a tremendous vote of confidence in New York's world-class workforce, innovation ecosystem, and the Capital Region's growing role as a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing and innovation."

"We also look forward to working with the Government of Japan and partnering with their world-leading semiconductor supply chain ecosystem in the years to come," Hochul said.

"This investment will create thousands of construction jobs, support more than 1,000 highly skilled manufacturing jobs, and reinforce New York's position as a global hub for the semiconductor industry."

Customers position themselves around the new capacity

The new capacity builds on long-standing customer relationships across the United States and Japan.

Hidetoshi Shibata, CEO of Renesas, said his company is planning around GF's new New York capacity as an extension of its own production footprint. "Trusted U.S.-based manufacturing backed by a strong U.S.-Japan partnership," Shibata said.

"This expanded collaboration further strengthens the stable, long-term supply of semiconductors with the differentiated technologies, quality, and reliability our products require. These capabilities are essential as we deliver advanced solutions, with demand for electrification, connectivity, AI, and data center applications accelerating worldwide."

The company also cited the role of its broader partner network, noting that resilient semiconductor manufacturing depends on a trusted ecosystem of equipment and technology partners.

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