Global semiconductor foundry United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) and US-based Polar Semiconductor are to collaborate on delivering scalable eight-inch production of wafers for use across automotive, data center, consumer electronics, and aerospace & defense industries.
Both firms will identify devices for Polar to manufacture at its recently expanded eight-inch facility in Minnesota.
By combining Polar’s proven manufacturing capabilities with UMC’s technology portfolio and global customer base, the partnership aims to drive mutual growth while supporting customers’ multi-sourcing strategies.
The move will also boost supply chain resilience amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and ensuring a secure domestic supply of power semiconductors critical to automotive, electric grids, robotic manufacturing and data centers.
Ken Obuszewski, Vice-President of Marketing of Polar, said, “This partnership is aligned with Polar’s strategy to meet the growing demand for domestic manufacturing, including the need to onshore semiconductor solutions from US and global customers. With deep foundry customer relationships and a robust portfolio of specialized technologies, partnership with UMC is proof of Polar’s capability to be a value-added silicon foundry in specialised technologies focused on power and sensors.”
Oliver Chang, Senior Vice-President of Global Sales of UMC – which has 12 fabs in production with combined capacity of more than 400,000 wafers per month – said it is committed to enabling customers’ success through a broad range of foundry technologies and geographically diverse manufacturing options.
UMC has a total of 12 fabs in production with combined capacity of more than 400,000 wafers per month.
“This partnership directly addresses our customers’ needs for more made-in-US chips, reflecting UMC’s dedication to delivering value through innovative solutions and mutually beneficial partnerships,” he said.
Domestic manufacturing faces high costs, tariffs, and long qualification times, and overseas shipping adds volatility. More suppliers are warming to a “multi-region strategy” which offers a more balanced and resilient solution.
Techcet, the electronic materials advisory firm, forecasts that the electronic gases materials market is set to grow 5% in 2025 to $6.34bn, driven by advanced node adoption, EUV lithography, and rising demand for ultra-high-purity gases and precision gas mixtures.
Similar growth is predicted for the Asia-Pacific electronic specialty gases sector over the next five years, delegates attending the gasworld Asia-Pacific Industrial Gas Conference in Bangkok heard this week.
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