In an effort to consolidate Spain as a reference in the research and development of semiconductors, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, led a meeting at the Moncloa Complex with the President and CEO of IMEC, Luc Van den Hove. The main objective of this meeting was to discuss the creation of a world-class semiconductor research center in Malaga. This initiative is part of a broader plan to promote public-private collaboration in the technology sector.
The meeting was attended by prominent figures such as Manuel de la Rocha, Director of the Office of Economic Affairs and G-20, and Max Mirgoli, Executive Vice President of IMEC. During the meeting, Van den Hove expressed his gratitude to President Sánchez for the continuous support of the project and highlighted the close cooperation between the governments of Spain and Belgium. According to Van den Hove, this support will strengthen pan-European collaboration in the field of semiconductors, emphasizing IMEC’s commitment to integrating into the Spanish scientific and technological ecosystem.
The conversation also addressed the European Union’s strategic agenda in the semiconductor sector for the coming years. It is worth noting that in July 2023, IMEC formalized an agreement with the Spanish Government to establish the aforementioned center in Malaga, which will focus on advanced technologies for chip manufacturing. This facility will be the first of its kind outside of Belgium and is expected to boost the microelectronics ecosystem through public-private partnerships.
The new center will have the mission of developing 300 mm chip prototyping processes and exploring innovative applications in various areas, including health, biology, photonics, augmented and virtual reality, and precision engineering. To carry out this ambitious project, the Spanish Government will provide partial financing through the PERTE Chip, managed by the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT). Additionally, it has committed to covering two-thirds of the costs needed to equip and operate the Clean Room of this innovative center.
The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities will play a crucial role in promoting scientific research and technological transformation, ensuring significant knowledge transfer. This collaboration hopes not only to strengthen Spain’s position in the European semiconductor field but also to facilitate technological advancements with impacts on multiple industries and sectors.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish
