Finance
STMicroelectronics plans robots, retraining to avoid closures
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 13, 2026
Quick Summary
STMicroelectronics is deploying humanoid robots and retraining workers at its older chip fabs in Europe to boost efficiency and avoid plant closures amid industry pressures.
STMicroelectronics Introduces Robots and Retraining to Sustain Chip Plants
STMicroelectronics' Strategy for Modernizing Chip Manufacturing
By Nathan Vifflin
SOPOT, Poland, March 13 (Reuters) - STMicroelectronics unveiled plans on Thursday to retrain workers and deploy robots in its older chip manufacturing plants, avoiding closures as the European semiconductor giant navigates industry challenges.
Industry Conference Highlights
At a semiconductor conference in Sopot, Poland, hosted by industry group SEMI, Thomas Morgenstern, STMicro's head of manufacturing, showed a video of a robot placing a silicon wafer carrier into a machine.
"This is the first one we have," he said. "In the next couple of years, we are talking about numbers beyond one hundred humanoids doing jobs in our facilities."
Competitive Pressures and Aging Fabs
European chipmakers, including STMicro and rivals such as NXP, face mounting pressure from global competitors, particularly in China, where modern automated production lines are increasing efficiency.
Ageing "fabs," or chip factories, require significant investment to compete, but they are often not upgradeable with newer tools. Options to tear down and rebuild are complicated by high costs, regulatory hurdles, and negotiations with unions in Europe.
Funding Challenges and Policy Initiatives
While older fabs are generally not eligible for EU Chips Act funding, because subsidies are geared towards "first-of-a-kind" projects, industry groups including SEMI are pushing for more investments in supply chains and existing industrial strengths as part of a refreshed Chips Act 2.0.
Humanoids Take Over Repetitive Tasks
STMicro has been grappling with a restructuring plan launched in October 2024 that includes the proposed departure of 5,000 workers. While progress has been made in France, the effort has stalled in Italy, highlighting the challenges the company faces in streamlining operations.
Workforce Retraining and Efficiency Gains
Morgenstern said humanoids would take over repetitive and physically demanding tasks, allowing workers to move into higher-skilled roles that are in short supply. He said the company had begun a training initiative to align workforce skills with emerging needs.
Future Outlook for European Chip Plants
"If you have a three or four-shift system, one humanoid can replace three out of four shifts," he told Reuters. "We don't want to close any facility in Europe ... the goal is to increase efficiency."
(Reporting by Nathan Vifflin in Sopot. Editing by Matt Scuffham and Mark Potter)
Key Takeaways
- •STMicro plans to introduce over 100 humanoid robots across older European chip fabs to take on repetitive tasks, enabling workforce redeployment into higher-skilled roles.
- •The initiative supports a restructuring plan started in October 2024, aiming to avoid facility closures while managing up to 2,800–5,000 departures via voluntary means.
- •Industry groups like SEMI and ESIA are pushing for a ‘Chips Act 2.0’ to broaden EU funding eligibility beyond new fabs to include upgrades and modernization of existing facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions about STMicroelectronics plans robots, retraining to avoid closures
1Why is STMicroelectronics introducing robots in its chip plants?
STMicroelectronics is introducing robots to automate repetitive and physically demanding tasks, aiming to increase efficiency and avoid plant closures.
2How is STMicroelectronics addressing workforce concerns with automation?
The company is retraining workers to move into higher-skilled roles that are in short supply, helping to align workforce skills with emerging needs.
3What challenges does STMicroelectronics face with its restructuring plan?
While progress has been made in France, the restructuring plan has stalled in Italy due to negotiations with unions and regulatory hurdles.
4Will any European STMicroelectronics facilities close due to automation?
STMicroelectronics aims to avoid facility closures in Europe by increasing efficiency through automation and workforce retraining.
5How does the EU Chips Act affect STMicroelectronics' plans?
Older fabs are generally not eligible for EU Chips Act funding, but industry groups are advocating for more investment in existing factories through a potential Chips Act 2.0.
