GlobalFoundries Selected for Two Malta Fabs Under Up-to-US$21 Billion Japan Initiative
Japan-backed plans would expand Malta chip production; a separate US$955 million CHIPS amendment targets photonics, SiGe and advanced packaging.
GlobalFoundries announced on October 14 that it was selected as technology provider and operator for two semiconductor fabs at its Malta, New York, site under a U.S.–Japan initiative providing up to US$21 billion of funding. Japan would supply the investment, with GlobalFoundries contributing technology and manufacturing operations.
Approximately US$10 billion would accelerate the first 300mm fab, expected online in 2029. Another approximately US$10 billion would support a second fab. GlobalFoundries expects to break ground on the first facility later in 2026 and describes the site as permitted and shovel-ready; the two facilities are not yet operating.
The initiative covers foundational semiconductor demand in automotive, industrial and connected-infrastructure markets, rather than being described as dedicated GPU production.
Separately, GlobalFoundries and the U.S. Commerce Department agreed to amend the company’s CHIPS award, reallocating US$955 million toward silicon photonics, silicon-germanium and advanced packaging in Malta and Burlington, Vermont. GlobalFoundries links those technologies to communications and data centers. Commerce would receive approximately four percent equity under another agreement; that is separate from Japan’s funding.
GlobalFoundries announcement — October 14, 2026 · AI Infrastructure. Source reviewed October 15, 2026.