The central square in Roznov pod Radhostem, which has about 16,000 inhabitants.
Photographer: Michaela Nagyidaiova/BloombergThe Sleepy Czech Town Helping Europe Compete in the Global Chip War
A $2 billion investment by a US company promises to create a tech hub and help modernize the country’s stagnating economy.
The Czech town of Roznov pod Radhostem was best known for its rum-drizzled sweet pies and an open-air museum showing off historical wooden houses. Then came an announcement that stirred the sleepy backwater.
US chipmaker ON Semiconductor Corp. picked Roznov for a new $2 billion manufacturing hub in June. The past few weeks have seen a flurry of visits by property developers, the head of a local university and government officials followed around by television crews.