German Minister for Digitalization and State Modernization Karsten Wildberger (C), Saxony's State Premier Michael Kretschmer (L) and CEO of Infineon Jochen Hanebeck (R) pose with a commemorative plaque as they meet apprentices during the opening of the Infineon Smart Power Fab in Dresden, eastern Germany, on July 2, 2026. German semiconductor giant Infineon officially opens a large new chip factory in eastern Germany on July 2, three months ahead of schedule. The new, highly automated plant -- which cost 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion) -- has been repeatedly held up as a symbol of the European Union's push to bolster the domestic tech sector and reduce dependency for crucial parts on Asia and the United States. (Photo by Robert Michael / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)