Newport to benefit from £7 million semiconductor investment
The funding includes £6.25 million from Cardiff Capital Region and £750,000 from Newport City Council, supporting the development of a 237,000 sq.ft facility at Imperial Park. The site will house manufacturing space, a fabrication plant, and offices for up to 750 employees, placing Newport firmly on the map as a hub for compound semiconductor innovation.
The new facility is located within Gwent's established compound semiconductor cluster and is expected to play a key role in advancing the UK's industrial strategy, and will also be vital to any plans for boosting defence capability.
The investment aligns with the goals of the local Investment Zone initiative, which aims to drive economic growth and create high-value jobs in the Gwent area.
Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales, welcomed the announcement of more public money, highlighting its potential to deliver skilled employment and long-term prosperity for the region.
Andrew Evans, Senior Director at KLA, said the expansion reflects Wales's strategic importance to KLA's global operations and its commitment to innovation.
The UK government has argued that such public investment will further strengthen the connection investors like KLA have to the Gwent area.
This latest move follows a £250 million investment by Vishay Intertechnology into Newport Wafer Fab earlier this year, further cementing the area's reputation as a semiconductor powerhouse.
Together, these developments signal a new chapter for Newport, positioning it as a key player in the global supply chain for advanced electronics and chip technologies.
KLA Corporation, headquartered in California, is a global leader in semiconductor process control. The company was formed in 1997 and provides technologies that help detect defects, improve production yield, and accelerate innovation in chip design and fabrication.
Operating in over 20 countries and employing around 15,000 people, KLA reported revenues of $9.81 billion last year. Its customers include major semiconductor manufacturers worldwide, and its tools are essential for producing the ultra-precise chips used in your smartphone, AI systems, driverless vehicles, and more.
The Newport expansion represents a significant step forward in Gwent's and the M4 corridor's rising profile in the semiconductor industry, according to KLA and politicians.
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