Ahead of imec’s plans to establish a new manufacturing facility in Malaga, Spain, Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, recently visited and toured imec's renowned nanotechnology research centre in Leuven, Belgium.
It has been known since last July that imec intends to set up a branch in Malaga, known as IMEC Fab 5. Ahead of the launch, the firm welcomed both Sanchez and the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo. Sanchez’s international visit included a tour of imec's clean room, a facility dedicated to cutting-edge chip research.
Plans to open the new facility were initiated in March when imec, the Spanish government and the regional government of Andalusia, signed a memorandum of understanding. The centre's facilities will include the imec’s second production plant in the world, and the firm’s first outside Belgium.
According to imec, the facility in Spain will leverage the unique advantages of 300mm semiconductor process technology to drive new applications in health care, life sciences, photonics, augmented and virtual reality, and precision sensing. It will complement the existing expertise and infrastructure in Leuven with non-standard processes that are currently incompatible with semiconductor manufacturing processes; the two sites are meant to be closely linked.
Sánchez expressed his admiration for imec's operations, commenting: "It is an impressive research space. The construction of the new line in Malaga is a truly European project in one of the most strategic sectors. There is no doubt about the many opportunities it will bring to our country."
Also remarking on the significance of the project, Luc Van den hove, CEO of imec, stated: "This is the first time that imec will build such a process line outside Belgium. The new facility will strengthen innovation in healthcare, photonics, augmented and virtual reality, among others. For Spain it means growth in the region; for imec it means strengthening our position as a leader in the global chip ecosystem."
The centre is estimated to cost €115 million, though funding for the imec centre will be supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Finance, and European Funds, along with the Junta de Andalucia. It is suggested that the new facility, which will be one of the first tenants in the first phase of the Málaga TechPark expansion, will lead to the creation of 450 highly qualified direct jobs within the area.
Carolina España, Spain’s Minister for Economy, Finance and European Funds, and President of Málaga TechPark, stated: “[IMEC's presence in Málaga] will facilitate the transfer of knowledge and cutting-edge technology in the field of semiconductors, foster collaboration with local companies and startups, boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in Spain, and decisively promote training and research in the field of semiconductors.”
imec’s ambitious project ultimately aligns with the EU Chips Act's objectives, which aim to double chip production in Europe by 2030. The desired growth is underpinned by efforts to reduce Europe’s dependency on the US and Asian countries for chip manufacturing.
