By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : December 01, 2025 6:45 pm
150,000 m2 site to produce critical materials for next generation of AI chips, creating 150 new jobs
Merck KGaA, a premier science and technology firm based in Darmstadt, Germany, officially launched its new Semiconductor Solutions megasite in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, today following a total investment of €500 million. This significant investment is designed to reinforce the company's global supply chain resilience and solidify its leadership position within the semiconductor industry ecosystem.
The new integrated production site focuses on semiconductor materials, especially Thin Films – the business within the Electronics business sector of Merck KGaA. . Thin film technology allows materials to be deposited and removed on an atomic level, enabling more layers, higher complexity and new chip architectures essential for advanced semiconductors.
“Our strategy is to stay close to customers and their technology roadmaps. This investment allows us to reinforce our position in one of the world’s most strategically important semiconductor ecosystems,” said Kai Beckmann, Deputy Chair of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO Electronics. “Our new Taiwan site will support our long-term growth ambitions within Electronics and strengthens our R&D and manufacturing capabilities.”
Covering 150,000 square meters, the Kaohsiung site is the company’s largest semiconductor materials campus worldwide. It focuses on thin films, formulation materials and specialty gases for high-precision layering, etching and patterning processes in advanced semiconductor production.
Built to LEED Gold standards, the facility showcases advanced smart manufacturing through digital twin technology, improving precision and efficiency while supporting predictive maintenance and process optimization. Renewable energy supply offsets 50% of annual electricity consumption.
With the investment in Kaohsiung, the “Level Up” investment program announced by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in 2021 is nearing completion. Over the last five years, Electronics has invested over € 3 billion worldwide in capacity and innovation in lockstep with major customers, increasing its supply chain resilience.