Awz Ventures to Build $1.3 Billion Semiconductor Fab in Ashkelon, Launching New National Deep-Tech Center
Awz Ventures has announced a $1.3 billion investment to build a next-generation semiconductor fabrication plant in Ashkelon, forming the core of The RISE deep-tech center and producing advanced chips for Israel’s civilian and defense industries.
Canadian-Israeli investment group Awz Ventures has unveiled plans to build a 5 billion-shekel (approx. $1.3 billion) semiconductor fabrication plant in Ashkelon, marking one of Israel’s largest deep-tech infrastructure projects in recent years.
The new facility — described by officials as a strategic national initiative — will anchor The RISE, Awz’s upcoming national deep-tech center in the Tera-Park industrial zone. The project is being advanced in partnership with multiple Israeli government bodies, including the Ministry of Economy and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Israel Innovation Authority, Directorate of Defense R&D (MAFAT), Israel Lands Authority, and the Ashkelon Municipality.
Next-Gen Chips for Defense and Civil Industries
The Fab will manufacture advanced semiconductor components engineered to outperform conventional silicon chips in processing speed, data transfer, and energy efficiency. These next-generation chips are viewed as critical enablers for:
- AI and machine learning systems
- Quantum computing architectures
- 5G/6G communications networks
- Strategic defense platforms and command-and-control systems
The facility is expected to strengthen Israel’s domestic semiconductor ecosystem at a time when supply-chain resilience and technological sovereignty have become core priorities for Western defense and tech industries.
Part of a Broader Deep-Tech Push
Awz says the new Fab will serve as the technological anchor of The RISE, envisioned as a national hub for advanced hardware innovation, dual-use technology development, and strategic R&D collaborations between government, industry, and academia.
Construction is slated to begin within the next phase of Tera-Park’s development, although a formal timeline has not yet been released.
