Imec to Set Up New 300mm R&D Process Line in Andalusia

The Spanish government, together with the regional government of Andalusia and imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelec-tronics and digital technology, announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining their intent to establish a specialized chip technology pilot line in Malaga (Andalusia).

The new innovation facility intends to complement imec’s existing 300mm advanced CMOS process line in Leuven, Belgium, with new 300mm pro-cesses developments and the introduction of new materials that are difficult to combine today with standard CMOS processes. The new facility aims to answer the industry’s need for R&D, prototyping and pave the road to the manufacturing of promising, new technologies.

The governments already agree to support the construction of the new facility including the advanced equipment. They have also formulated the intention to financially support the pilot line’s operations in a sustainable, long-term manner, to the benefit of its growing semiconductor ecosystem. Imec intends to manage the operations, provide the required knowledge and technology, and guarantee access to its global academic and indus-trial partner network.