„We need a courageous and innovative microelectronics strategy for Europe so that Europe becomes competitive again
“, AT & S-CEO Michael Mertin asked at the opening of the new competence center for R&D and IC substrate production. Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer said:“Microelectronics is one of the central key technologies of the digital age – without them artificial intelligence is inconceivable
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Numerous high-ranking guests from politics, business and media took part in the opening ceremony of the new competence center “HTB3” at the AT & S company seat in Leoben Hinterberg on Tuesday and did not miss the opportunity for a tour of the 11,000 square meters full of high-tech systems.
AT&S has invested more than 500 million ꞓ in the construction of HTB3 and is now the first and only company in Europe to have local capacities for the development and production of IC substrates, which are the essential component of modern high-performance microchips that supply transistors on semiconductors with energy and data. The opening of HTB3 for the strategy of the EU is to build an independent microelectronics industry in order to secure future key industries such as chip production, AI infrastructure and green tech in the long term. With HTB3, Europe now has its own capacity for researching and production of IC substrates for the first time. In addition to the IC substrate production locations in Malaysia and China, AT&S completes its global research and production triangle for highly developed IC substrates with the completion of HTB3.
“Microelectronics is one of the central key technologies of the digital age-without them is artificial intelligence. Because AI not only needs powerful software, but also the right hardware. With AT&S we have a global high-tech champion in Austria that proves impressively that we can do far more than just Midtech,” said Austria’s Federal Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism Hattmannsdorfer at the HTB3 opening. “The new competence center in Leoben is a strong symbol for the exit from the mid-tech trap and for Austria’s opportunities in the high-tech area. This is exactly why the Federal Government provides almost 400 million ꞓ in the area of microelectronics for participating in two imports of Common European Interest (IPCEI)-because this key technology is a load-bearing pillar of our industrial progress.
“Europe has to master elementary technologies for the world of today and tomorrow, the microelectronics are one of them. Without microelectronics there is neither AI, nor quantum computing, nor sustainable energy,” says AT & S President & CEO Michael Mertin and continues: “Microelectronics are one of the key to creating and securing sustainability in Europe. Of this, because every modern microchip, whether in AI data centers, green power plants or smartphones, needs IC substrates as an interface to storing data and power supply. “
Together – from Leoben to Brussels
With the new R&D center in Leoben, AT&S brings substrate competence to Austria, strengthens the European microelectronic ecosystem and lays the basis for the digital and sustainable industries of tomorrow. “We will take the swing from the construction phase and establish our competence center as an innovation smithy. Europe has to stay together together, because international competition does not sleep,” says Michael Mertin, who also has a demand for Brussels: “We need a courageous and innovative microelectronics strategy for Europe so that Europe is competitive again. For a comprehensive microelectronic strategy.
The new AT & S plant was funded as part of the IPCEI program with which European research is to be promoted in the field of microelectronics. “We are proud that we can now offer a fully diversified supply chain with our three locations in Austria, China and Malaysia. Not only globally, but also tailored to today’s customer needs
“, Says Ingolf Schröder, EVP of the AT & S-Business Unit Microelectronics.“ We have already delivered the first patterns to some customers, and the qualification for new products is running according to plan. We are proud that we are developing innovative solutions together with our customers. At the same time, we are successfully working on the further diversification of our customer portfolio, whereby we are all optimal to use.”
The new competence center not only causes enthusiasm in Brussels and Vienna. The Leoben location and thus Styria have already benefited greatly: Around 420 new jobs have so far been created in Hinterberg. State of Economics and Research Willibald Ehrenhöfer: “With this new work, the Styrian leading company AT&S shows how innovative strength and the creation of promising high-tech workplaces go hand in hand. This new competence center not only strengthens the business location Leoben, but also establishes Styria as an essential player in the European technology ecosystem. To further expand the top position in the microelectronics area together with AT&S and to position us as a hotspot for future technologies. ”
AT & S Austria Technology & System Technology Aktiengesellschaft – Advanced Technologies & Solutions
AT&S is a worldwide leading manufacturer of high-quality IC substrates and circuit boards as well as developers of future connection technologies for the core areas of mobile devices, automotive & aerospace, industrial, medical and high-performance computing for VR and AI applications. AT&S has a global presence with production locations in Austria (Leoben, Fehring) as well as works in India (Nanjangud) and China (Shanghai, Chongqing). A new high-end production facility for IC substrates was put into operation in Malaysia (Kulim). A European competence center for R&D and IC substrate production was built in Leoben, which was officially opened in June 2025. Both locations started production in the 2024/25 financial year. The company currently employs around 13,000 people: inside. Further information also under www.ats.net
Media download:
Im AT&S Media Portal https://ats.canto.de/b/O88LI Find more information and images about the opening and the new work.