Habeck and those around him considered it a mistake to support a company that was ultimately backed by the Chinese, especially when it came to a key technology such as microchips.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin The Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWK) of Robert Habeck (Greens) does not want to support the chip manufacturer Nexperia with its plant in Hamburg with state funds as originally planned. The ministry announced on Thursday that the EU Commission had approved funding for 31 chip projects in Germany. According to the BMWK, the projects are to be funded with a total of around four billion euros, of which 70 percent will be provided by the federal government and 30 percent by the states.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs originally submitted 32 projects in December 2021. The now missing project is the promotion of Nexperia. Government circles confirmed this to the Handelsblatt.
Nexperia, with its 14,000 employees worldwide, produces most of its chips in Hamburg and has its headquarters in the Netherlands. However, the company belongs to the Chinese group Wingtech, which has connections to the Chinese state.
The decision against the promotion of Nexperia was made at the highest level in the ministry, according to government circles. Habeck and those around him considered it a mistake to support a company that was ultimately backed by the Chinese, especially when it came to a key technology such as microchips.
According to government officials, Nexperia has not yet received a negative decision. The ministry is trying to influence the company to withdraw its application for funding itself.
The company would still have the opportunity to appeal against the decision of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.
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