DRESDEN (dpa-AFX) - Economics Minister Robert Habeck has defended state investment in the semiconductor industry in Germany. The demand for semiconductors is growing enormously, but currently they are mainly not coming from Europe, the Green politician said Thursday during a visit to Infineon 's chip factory in Dresden.

"And that's why the question of whether we have part of the production and therefore the technology and the knowledge and the people who master the technology and the knowledge here in Germany and in Europe is a question of economic policy sovereignty." The German economy cannot rely on supply chains always working, he said.

The German government is supporting the establishment of semiconductor factories with huge sums of money. Intel in Magdeburg, for example, is to receive almost ten billion from the state out of a total investment volume of 30 billion euros. Infineon is expanding its plant for five billion euros and, according to CEO Jochen Hanebeck, is aiming for a government claim of one billion. The first chips are expected to leave the plant starting in the fall of 2026./tam/DP/jha