A few months ago, Intel announced its ambitious plans to build a cutting-edge chip packaging centre in Poland. Although the project has been put on hold, the company's recent activities – particularly a surge in patent filings – suggest that Poland remains an important part of the giant's global strategy.
News of Intel's planned investment near Wrocław caused quite a stir. A high-tech chip assembly and testing centre was to be built there; unfortunately, due to the company's global financial problems, the investment was suspended. However, Intel claims that it has not withdrawn completely from the project which remains "on hold" and could be resumed in more favourable circumstances.
The plant was to carry out the final stage of IC production – the so-called packaging, i.e. placing the finished semiconductor structures in housings and testing their correct operation. While this is a less glamorous stage than the lithography of transistors in nanometre technologies, it is crucial for the performance, reliability and possibility of
Advanced packaging: the silent chip revolution
It is worth noting that, in recent years, classic "Moore's Law" has faced increasing limitations. Rather than merely reducing the size of transistors, chip manufacturers are increasingly relying on parallel processing and integrating multiple specialised chips into a single structure. This has led to the development of advanced packaging technologies, particularly multi-die and chiplet solutions.
Intel has been developing its own technology in this area, called Foveros, which enables different chips to be integrated into a single housing in a 3D configuration. For example, this makes it possible to combine the CPU, GPU and SRAM units in a single module while keeping signal paths short. This minimises latency and reduces power consumption, which is crucial for artificial intelligence and edge computing applications. The plant which was to be built in Poland was set to become one of the first in Europe with the capacity to handle such advanced processes.
The future of manufacturing, as outlined by Intel
The company's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, presented his vision for the company's development at the Intel Vision conference in Las Vegas, which took place at the end of March 2025. In his speech, Mr Lip-Bu Tan emphasised the following points:
- the need to focus on customers and simplifying decision-making processes,
- the importance of systems supporting artificial intelligence and edge computing (Edge AI),
- the necessity to advance Intel's 18A technology, which is proprietary and based on RibbonFET transistors, as well as on a unique approach to powering the backplane (PowerVia),
- the company's ambitions to establish a global network of contract chip manufacturing services (Intel Foundry Services).
From a Polish perspective, the revival of Intel's plans to invest in Europe could be pivotal in ensuring the production capacity of next-generation AI chips. The fact that these products require adequate manufacturing capacity may suggest that the project needs to be completed in Poland. However, US customs policy is also a key factor.
Patents speak louder than press releases
It is also important to mention that getting ready for this type of investment involves some less obvious tasks, such as ensuring the company's ideas and inventions are well protected. Large corporations, including Intel, treat patents as a strategic resource, using them not only to protect innovation, but also to gain leverage in discussions with partners and governments.
Patent applications are a good indicator of investment intentions – if a company plans to expand in a country, it will typically strengthen the protection of its technological solutions within that territory. A publication by the Polish Patent Office shows that Intel has significantly increased the number of patents filed and in force in Poland over the past three years. The number of filings surged in the opening months of 2025, exceeding the total for the entire year of 2021. Given that each filing incurs maintenance costs, the extent of this increase suggests that the company is not treating Poland as a marginal market.
Intellectual property is one of the most important assets for high-tech companies. For corporations such as Intel and Apple, patents, trade secrets and trademarks are often more valuable than their factories. Therefore, an appropriate IP management strategy is crucial for maintaining a competitive advantage, attracting investors, and securing opportunities for expansion into foreign markets.
What are the implications for Poland?
An increase in Intel's patent filings in Poland could suggest that the company is preparing to invest in the country, seeking to protect its technology from being copied by local subcontractors, or looking for government support, such as grants or tax breaks. It could also be an attempt to hinder competition in the region.
Therefore, even a small business can be affected by competition monitoring and the risk of enforcement by large corporations. As part of an intellectual property (IP) strategy, it is important to actively monitor the market for infringements. If necessary, corporations may sue competitors, demanding damages or sales bans. Large companies have in-house IP legal departments for this purpose, while smaller entrepreneurs can use reputable law firms.
The IP strategy of large corporations is a complex, multi-stage process that is closely integrated with R&D activities, market expansion, and legal strategy. The number, geography and types of patent applications sometimes make it possible to forecast companies' investment plans and areas of development well in advance. Hence, analysing increased patent activity by companies such as Intel in Poland can provide market observers with valuable insights.
There has been no official announcement regarding the potential resumption of construction on the plant near Wrocław. However, based on the observations of the company's technological and legal activities, it is clear that our country can still be considered a key player in the global semiconductor industry. This is an important moment for businesses and decision-makers. Intel's increased activity in Poland is not just a formality; often, events like that precede the imminent launch of new business initiatives.
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