Shift in Focus: Engineering and Research Take Center Stage
Foxconn Technology Group is reevaluating its ambitious plans to produce advanced liquid crystal display (LCD) panels at its $10 billion Wisconsin campus. Instead of the manufacturing workforce originally promised, the company now intends to focus on hiring engineers and researchers. This shift marks a significant change from the project’s initial vision, which was introduced at a 2017 White House ceremony as the largest greenfield investment by a foreign-based company in U.S. history.
From Manufacturing to a Technology Hub
Initially planned as a large-scale manufacturing facility for advanced TV screens, Foxconn’s Wisconsin campus is now being repositioned as a “technology hub.” Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn’s CEO Terry Gou, revealed that the company is still weighing its options, citing the high cost of U.S. labor as a major factor in the reconsideration. The new plan may include research facilities, packaging, and assembly operations, with a focus on producing specialized technology products for industrial, healthcare, and professional markets.
Job Creation Goals in Question
While Foxconn reiterated its commitment to creating 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin, the pace of hiring has slowed considerably. The company initially projected employing 5,200 people by the end of 2020, but this number is now expected to be closer to 1,000. Moreover, about three-quarters of the eventual jobs are likely to be in research and development rather than in blue-collar manufacturing roles. As Foxconn continues to adapt its business strategy, it remains to be seen how this will impact the company’s ability to meet the state’s job creation and capital investment requirements.
