German Minister for Digitalization and State Modernization Karsten Wildberger delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the Infineon Smart Power Fab in Dresden, eastern Germany, on July 2, 2026. German semiconductor giant Infineon opened a five-billion-euro ($5.7 billion) microchip plant on July 2, at a time Europe seeks to bolster its high-tech autonomy. The "Smart Power Fab" in the eastern city of Dresden, completed three months ahead of schedule, has been hailed as a symbol of an EU push to reduce dependency for crucial parts on Asia and the United States. (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP via Getty Images)