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Crolles
Nation / PlaceFR

Crolles

French town hosting STMicroelectronics fab where GlobalFoundries JV was suspended.

Last refreshed: 13 April 2026

Key Question

What happens to Crolles when GlobalFoundries pulls out and STMicro faces a funding crisis?

Timeline for Crolles

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Common Questions
What is the Crolles semiconductor fab?
Crolles is home to STMicroelectronics' main European manufacturing complex, producing chips on FD-SOI processes for automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics. It is a cornerstone of European semiconductor sovereignty.Source: STMicroelectronics Crolles facility
Why did GlobalFoundries pull out of the Crolles joint venture?
GlobalFoundries suspended its joint venture with STMicroelectronics in Crolles in 2024, citing the collapse in chip demand and difficulty securing EU public funding on commercially viable terms.Source: GlobalFoundries JV suspension announcement
What is FD-SOI and why does Europe care about it?
FD-SOI (fully depleted silicon-on-insulator) is a chip process that STMicroelectronics and Samsung use. Europe invested in it as a differentiating technology for low-power and RF applications, particularly for automotive chips.Source: CEA-Leti FD-SOI research
Is the Crolles fab receiving EU funding?
Yes. Crolles is among the sites included in IPCEI Me/CT (Important Projects of Common European Interest in Microelectronics and Communication Technologies), receiving French state and EU co-funding.Source: European Commission IPCEI Me/CT decision

Background

Crolles is a town in the Isère department of southeastern France, home to STMicroelectronics' most important European manufacturing site. The Crolles facility has produced semiconductors for automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics applications for decades, using processes including FD-SOI — a French-developed transistor architecture considered a specialty of the site. In 2024, GlobalFoundries and STMicroelectronics suspended their €7.5bn joint expansion at Crolles, citing insufficient customer demand, in a significant setback for French and EU semiconductor ambitions. The suspension left STMicroelectronics without a strategic partner for the planned capacity expansion.