Industry leaders, innovators, policymakers and researchers from across the globe are attending the two-day Global Semiconductor Conference Malta 2025, which ends today.

The aim of the event, now in its second edition, is to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping one of the world’s most vital industries.

The conference, an official statement said, served as a platform to highlight Malta’s growing role in Europe’s semi­-conductor ecosystem and its ambition to remain a reliable, forward-looking partner in driving technological progress across the continent.

Over the years, STMicroelectronics has been central to Malta’s success in the sector, continuing to expand its operations while reinforcing the country’s position within Europe’s semiconductor network through the extension of its Smart Factory.

This investment, the largest in Malta’s history, represents both a legacy of excellence and a future of opportunity, the statement noted. It pointed out that Malta’s increasing appeal as an investment destination was also underlined, with reports from EY and the Financial Times ranking the country among the world’s top performers in attracting new foreign direct investment relative to its size.

“For Malta, the semiconductor industry represents our belief that innovation has no borders. It shows how a small nation can play an essential role in Europe’s technological transformation. Our focus is to keep building on this success by investing in skills, research and technology, ensuring that the progress we make today continues to benefit future generations,” Economy Minister Silvio Schembri told the conference.

Malta Enterprise CEO George Gregory remarked that although Malta’s role may be modest in scale it is strategic in impact.

“Our size gives us agility, the ability to test new ideas quickly, foster collaboration and adapt in real time. This makes Malta a valuable testbed for new semiconductor technologies that complement Europe’s broader initiatives,” he said.

Fabio Gualandris, president of quality, manufacturing and technology at STMicroelectronics, unveiled the company’s first humanoid for manufacturing in the packaging and test fab in Malta.

“The introduction of humanoid robots represents an important step in the company’s transformation, combining human creativity with machine precision to enhance efficiency and innovation in semiconductor manufacturing,” he said.