About imec
At imec, we shape the future.
How? By enabling nano- and digital technology innovation with a significant impact on the quality of life. With our partners from companies, governments and academia. And supported by the three pillars of our R&D:
- a unique infrastructure that includes a 2.5-billion-euro 300mm semiconductor pilot line
- more than 5,500 expert scientists from over 96 countries
- an ecosystem of more than 600 world-leading industry partners and a global academic network
Founded in 1984, imec quickly made its name as the leading research hub for advanced CMOS scaling.
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Visit imec.be for an overview of imec's activities in Flanders (in Dutch)
Download imec's consolidated financial statements of 2023
We will continue to shape the roadmap for the semiconductor industry for years to come. On top of that, we leverage this deep-tech knowhow. And we combine it with software and system knowledge to build up an exceptional portfolio of advanced technologies.
The combination of these technologies opens the door to smart, sustainable solutions. These span domains such as healthcare, mobility, Industry 5.0, clean energy and agrifood.
Want to join us in shaping the future? Take a look at our research and development offerings. Or explore our support services for start-ups.
Logic and memory scaling
Imec’s R&D programs unite the key players in the semiconductor industry: tool and material suppliers, IDMs, foundries, fabless and fablite companies, system partners, and leading academia and knowledge centers.
The shared goal is to answer the need for increased data capacity and traffic in mobile devices and servers. Imec contributes to meeting this goal by:
- further advancing photolithography
- exploring new materials and transistor architectures
- design-technology co-optimization (DTCO)
- innovations in the back-end-of-line (BEOL)
Imec also innovates at system-on-chip level by leveraging advancements from different domains, including 3D integration. To increase memory capacity, existing memories are being pushed to their extremes. And novel memory technologies are being explored to further improve memory density, speed and power consumption.
Electronic and digital systems
Imec expands its chip technology with elements such as sensors and actuators, network components and artificial intelligence. This enables disruptive integrated systems that address the world’s crucial challenges. For example:
- affordable, compact systems that enable decentralized healthcare, such as portable DNA sequencers
- technology for converting renewable energy into valuable molecules such as hydrogen
- indoor localization systems that are important drivers for smart factories where humans and AI robots work together
Local and global impact
Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. But we have offices and research sites across Belgium and the world: from the Netherlands to the USA and Asia.
Our goal is not only to be a worldwide leader in R&D. We also want to combine that global excellence with local citizenship. In the regions where we are present, we engage in high-impact projects with local businesses and governments.
Take our initiatives with Dutch partners. Within the OnePlanet Research Center, we build high-level solutions within precision health and agriculture. And Holst Centre develops technology that responds to the global societal challenges of tomorrow. It contributes to new micro-electronical and sensor technology solutions in the fields of Health & Vitality, Energy & Climate, Mobility & Industry 5.0.
In the US, we engage in strategic partnerships with leading companies and universities.
- In Florida, at the NeoCity campus, we investigate cryogenic and superconducting computing, specialty and advanced semiconductor packaging technologies.
- Our center of excellence located at Purdue University engages in joint research on high-performance compute and packaging materials, models and architectures, and more sustainable semiconductor technologies and systems.
- In Michigan, imec is involved in the advancement of semiconductor technologies for the automotive industry. We’ve signed an MoU with the University of Michigan to perform collaborative research on semiconductor materials and system architectures. And we’re involved in mstar, the US chapter of star, a global network that unites innovators from the automotive and semiconductor ecosystem. Mstar focuses on the Michigan ecosystem with activities in workforce development, automotive semiconductor research and local ecosystem building.
The local economic impact of the presence of an R&D center such as imec was illustrated by an independent study into imec’s impact on Flanders. It found that for every euro imec receives in grants, it generates 11.7 euros as added value and fiscal return.
Quality and integrity
To ensure that our research and other activities meet the most exacting standards regarding quality control, responsible behavior and ethics, we adhere to a number of standards and codes. And we've installed – or become a member of – several oversight commissions.
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