US semiconductor giant Intel has announced a €5 billion investment to expand its Leixlip campus in Ireland, according to IT Pro, with plans to scale capacity for the production of Intel Xeon 6 and next-generation Intel Xeon chips built on its Intel 3 manufacturing node.

Using existing cleanroom space, the investment will expand current production output and advance research and development activities at the Co. Kildare facility. The company will upgrade existing fabrication facilities and install new manufacturing equipment, with key infrastructure enhancements including an expansion of the automated track system designed to integrate disparate campus modules into a single, high-velocity production environment.

Work has already commenced, with Intel stating that the programme is expected to deliver employment for specialised tradespeople including construction workers and equipment installers.

Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president, chief technology and operations officer and general manager of Intel Foundry, said: "This €5 billion investment represents a definitive commitment to maximize capacity at our Leixlip campus and increase what we can deliver to Intel Foundry customers. By investing in our existing fabs with state-of-the-art technology and installing cutting-edge tools, we are not just increasing output of critical products like Xeon 6 and next gen Intel Xeon processors built on Intel 3, we are ensuring that Ireland remains at the forefront of the world's most advanced manufacturing ecosystems, while strengthening the region's role in the global technology landscape."

The Leixlip campus is one of Intel's primary European manufacturing sites and a significant node in the company's global foundry network. The expansion reinforces Ireland's established position as a centre for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, where several of the world's largest chipmakers maintain major fabrication and research operations.

The investment reflects Intel's broader strategy to maximise output from existing infrastructure ahead of deploying next-generation manufacturing nodes, with the Leixlip campus positioned to serve Intel Foundry customers requiring high-volume production of advanced server and data centre processors at scale.

The scale of the commitment also underlines the continued relevance of Ireland's engineering and manufacturing talent base to global semiconductor supply chains, with specialised construction, equipment installation and semiconductor engineering roles expected to be created as the expansion programme advances.