IMEC explained

imec
Type:Nonprofit company
Industry:Nanoelectronics, digital technologies
Genre:Independent research center
Founder:Roger Van Overstraeten
Location City:Leuven
Locations:Taiwan, Japan, United States, China, Netherlands and India
Key People:Luc Van den hove (President and CEO)
Services:R&D, business incubation, IP licensing, prototyping, training, (...)
Revenue:846 million Euro (2022)
Num Employees:>5,000
Location Country:Belgium

Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (imec) is an international research & development organization, active in the fields of nanoelectronics and digital technologies with headquarters in Belgium. Luc Van den hove has served as president and CEO since 2009.[1]

Imec leverages its state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure and its team of more than 5,500 employees and researchers for advanced semiconductor R&D activities, also including system scaling, silicon photonics, artificial intelligence, beyond 5G communications and sensing technologies. In 2022, Imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 846 million euro.[2]

Overview

Imec employs more than 5,500 researchers from more than 90 countries; it has numerous facilities dedicated to research and development around the world, including 12,000 square meters of cleanroom capacity for semiconductor processing.[3] The imec headquarters are located in Leuven.

History

In 1982, the Flemish Government set up a program to strengthen the microelectronics industry in Flanders. This program included setting up a laboratory for advanced research in microelectronics (imec), a semiconductor foundry (former Alcatel Microelectronics, now STMicroelectronics and AMI Semiconductor,[4]) and a training program for VLSI design engineers. The latter is now fully integrated in the imec activities.

Imec was founded in 1984 as a non-profit organization led by Prof. Roger Baron Van Overstraeten. The name imec is an acronym of the original full name: Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum VZW. It is supervised by a board of directors, which includes delegates from industry, Flemish universities and the Flemish Government. Since 1984, imec has been led by Roger Van Overstraeten, Gilbert Declerck (as of June 1999), and Luc Van den Hove (as of July 2009).[1]

In 2015, imec created a joint venture with Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC).[5]

In February 2016, it was announced that imec would be merging with the Flemish digital research center, iMinds. The merge was finalized on September 21, 2016.[6]

In January 2024, it was announced that imec would open a centre of R&D in the Andalusia Technology Park in Málaga, Spain.[7]

In March 2024, the Flemish Government stated that imec would "drastically reduce" its partnerships with China due to export control concerns.

Advanced semiconductor scaling

Imec is well known for its expertise in shrinking circuitry and the applicability of nanotechnology in novel industries.[8] In 2015, The New York Times stated that imec had helped pioneer techniques to produce some of the world's smallest and most sophisticated chips[9] and the centre was considered to be a world-leader in nanoelectronics research.[10] [11]

In December 2022, imec signed a cooperation agreement with the new Japanese venture Rapidus for the production of 2 nm process semiconductor chips.[12]

Energy

Imec performs research in smart energy,[13] ranging from developing ways to actively and cost-effectively plan, deploy, and manage smart grid networks up to improving the efficiency, production and storage cost of (solar) energy. Considerable advances have been made in solar cell and solid state battery technologies.[14] [15] [16]

Together with KU Leuven, VITO, and UHasselt, imec set up a separate R&D hub to perform research into sustainable energy and intelligent energy systems. The project is named EnergyVille and employs 400 researchers whose work centers around six interdisciplinary domains: photovoltaics, electrical and thermal storage, power control and conversion, electrical and thermal networks, buildings and districts, strategies and markets.[17]

Artificial intelligence

Imec performs advanced research on artificial intelligence[18] and was awarded US$750,000 twice in 2019 by DARPA in a machine-learning competition.

In a 2017 report, The Financial Times named imec's self-learning neuromorphic chip one of the fifty ideas that will change the world and was described by the newspaper as having the potential to revolutionize computing.[19]

Smart cities

In 2017, the Flemish government commissioned imec to support the 13 leading Flemish cities and the Flemish community in Brussels in their transition to becoming smart cities.[20] imec was also commissioned by the Flemish government and the City of Antwerp to create Europe's largest lab for Internet of Things applications.[21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26]

Image sensors and vision systems

In 2019, the state of Florida declared a partnership with imec to develop hyperspectral technology that is able to better detect invasive Burmese and rock pythons, which have been permanently damaging the Everglades’ eco-systems.[27]

Smart health

Neuropixels technology

The performance of the Neuropixels probes and their potential for transformational neuroscience experiments was described in a November 9, 2017 paper published in Nature.[28] In 2019, The New York Times reported that imec's Neuropixels technology is widely recognized as the most advanced method of gathering data from brain cells.[29]

Brain-On-Chip research

In 2018, imec announced the creation of a research venture together with KU Leuven, UZ Leuven and VIB, called Mission Lucidity. The venture’s aim is to decode dementia.[30] [31] imec is creating human-specific living brain models, so called 'brains-on-chips’ which automate and miniaturize human stem cell manipulations, and developing technology to generate programmable, instrumented 3D brain models with single-cell precision.[32] The project was supported by a Collaborative Science Award of one million dollars by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.[31]

Point of care blood test devices (Johns Hopkins University & miDiagnostics)

Peter Peumans, in charge of imec'slife science technologies program, helped found miDiagnostics and was appointed CTO. In 2019, NASA awarded funding to miDiagnostics to test a technology for monitoring astronauts’ health status under zero gravity conditions, with the aim of advancing space health diagnostics.[33]

Wearables

Imec develops wearable devices.[34] Its technologies have gained several approvals by regulatory agencies such as the FDA and PMDA and have made contributions to at least one published study.[35]

Through its spinoff Bloomlife, imec develops pregnancy monitoring technology that tracks fetal health and fetal mobility, with the aim of giving pregnant women and their doctors better access to key details about fetal development.[36]

Other applications include ingestible gut sensors designed to capture mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes that occur during digestion, flagging abnormalities and problems while also delivering personalized nutrition advice.[37]

Breathalyzer

In 2020, imec started a large research project on the development of a breathalyzer to detect COVID-19 in exhaled breath. The basic idea was to use a silicon-based sieve to catch extremely small exhaled air particles from the deep lungs and by doing so, already detect the virus in an early stage of the infection.[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IMEC names Luc Van den hove to serve as President and CEO - Leuven.Inc - Leuven Innovation Networking Circle. Abusol. leuveninc.. 2 June 2009. 22 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180619140929/https://www.leuveninc.com/event/36/831/IMEC_names_Luc_Van_den_hove_to_serve_as_President_and_CEO/. 19 June 2018. dead.
  2. Web site: Imec and ASML sign MoU imec . 2023-10-06 . imec-int. . en . 2023-10-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001100000/https://www.imec-int.com/en/press/imec-and-asml-sign-memorandum-understanding-mou-support-semiconductor-research-and . live .
  3. News: Imec (Flanders) opens new state-of-the-art R&D center. 9 November 2016. Invest In Flanders. 22 November 2018. 6 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181006235035/https://www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com/invest/en/news/imec-flanders-opens-new-state-art-rd-center. live.
  4. Web site: STMicroelectronics buys Alcatel microelectronics unit. Computerworld. 2019-04-12. 2019-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20190412143749/https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/27408/stmicroelectronics_buys_alcatel_microelectronics_unit/. live.
  5. Web site: Haeck . Pieter . 2024-03-04 . Europe's chips research champion is cutting China ties . 2024-03-05 . . en . 2024-03-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240305070428/https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-chips-imec-rd-leader-rolls-back-china-ties/ . live .
  6. News: 22 September 2016 . Newswire & Press Release / Merger Between Centers Imec and iMinds Completed - Electronics/Instrumentation/RFID - Imec NewswireToday . 22 November 2018 . newswiretoday . 9 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170809173423/http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/160844/ . live .
  7. News: 29 January 2024 . Málaga acogerá el nuevo centro de I+D en microelectrónica que el IMEC instalará en España . 1 February 2024 . 1 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240201113705/https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20240129/malaga-nuevo-centro-microelectronica-imec-espana/15946762.shtml . live .
  8. Web site: The brains behind your next gadget come from this obscure medieval town. cnet. 2020-03-30. 2020-01-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20200101141501/https://www.cnet.com/news/imec-intel-samsung-from-an-obscure-town-comes-the-big-brains-behind-your-next-gadget/. live.
  9. News: Qualcomm in Venture With Chinese Chip Maker . The New York Times . 23 June 2015 . Mozur . Paul . 30 March 2020 . 27 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210927205928/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/24/business/international/qualcomm-in-venture-with-chinese-chip-maker.html?searchResultPosition=1 . live .
  10. Web site: New standard allows stacked dies in 3D integrated circuits to connect with test equipment. eejournal.. 27 January 2020. 30 March 2020. 13 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200213081252/https://www.eejournal.com/industry_news/new-standard-allows-stacked-dies-in-3d-integrated-circuits-to-connect-with-test-equipment/. live.
  11. Web site: 15 January 2020 . Evonetix collaborate with imec to scale-up chip-based technology production for third generation DNA synthesis platform . eejournal. . 30 March 2020 . 16 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200116030441/https://www.eejournal.com/industry_news/evonetix-collaborate-with-imec-to-scale-up-chip-based-technology-production-for-third-generation-dna-synthesis-platform/ . live .
  12. Web site: Davis . Shannon . 2022-12-07 . Imec and Rapidus Sign Memorandum of Cooperation to Collaborate on Advanced Semiconductor Technologies . Semiconductor Digest . en-US . 2022-12-16 . 2022-12-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221214234422/https://www.semiconductor-digest.com/imec-and-rapidus-sign-memorandum-of-cooperation-to-collaborate-on-advanced-semiconductor-technologies/ . live .
  13. Web site: Smart Energy. imec-int.. 2020-03-30. 2019-11-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20191129220341/https://www.imec-int.com/en/smart-energy. live.
  14. Web site: Imec Doubles Energy Density of its Solid-State Batteries. eetimes. 20 June 2019 . 2020-03-30. 2021-02-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210216085912/https://www.eetimes.com/imec-doubles-energy-density-of-its-solid-state-batteries/. live.
  15. Web site: Imec simplifies i-PERC solar cell processing by implementing laser doping from ALD-Al2O3. phys. 2020-03-30. 2020-10-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20201024145518/https://phys.org/news/2013-11-imec-i-perc-solar-cell-laser.html. live.
  16. Web site: IMEC presents large area solar cells with 18.4% conversion efficiency, featuring Cu-plated contacts. phys. 2020-03-30. 2020-11-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20201119233557/https://phys.org/news/2009-09-imec-large-area-solar-cells.html. live.
  17. Web site: About EnergyVille. energyville.be. 2020-03-30. 2020-09-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919213159/https://www.energyville.be/en/about-energyville. live.
  18. Web site: Manufacturing Bits: Dec. 16 . semiengineering. . 16 December 2019 . 2020-03-30 . 2020-08-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200820151752/https://semiengineering.com/manufacturing-bits-dec-16-2/ . live .
  19. News: Ideas to change the world — long-term potential or simply gimmicks? . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211181233/https://www.ft.com/content/b715a70e-88f2-11e7-bf50-e1c239b45787 . 2022-12-11 . subscription . live . Financial Times . 5 September 2017 . 2020-03-30 .
  20. Web site: Smart Flanders. smart.flanders.be. 2020-03-30. 2020-10-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026205012/https://smart.flanders.be/. live.
  21. Web site: Imec collaborates with City of Antwerp and Flanders to establish Smart City Living Lab. imec-int. 2020-03-30. 2020-09-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20200927001750/https://www.imec-int.com/en/articles/imec-collaborates-with-city-of-antwerp-and-flanders-to-establish-smart-city-living-lab. live.
  22. Web site: Alles wordt slim. Zelfs de autostrade. standaard.be. 10 April 2019. 30 March 2020. 4 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190904173636/https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20190409_04312347. live.
  23. Web site: Slimme snelweg met pratende wagens moet verkeersdoden terugdringen. demorgen.be. 9 April 2019. 30 March 2020. 23 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190723132521/https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/slimme-snelweg-met-pratende-wagens-moet-verkeersdoden-terugdringen~bcbebc92/. live.
  24. Web site: AI central to the FutureSummits by imec in Antwerp . businessinantwerp education . 2020-03-30 . 2020-06-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200625030938/https://businessinantwerp.eu/news/ai-central-futuresummits-imec-antwerp . live .
  25. Web site: High Tech Next offers a wide variety of speakers, topics. innovationorigins.. 11 November 2018. 30 March 2020. 19 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200519085114/https://innovationorigins.com/high-tech-next-offers-a-wide-variety-of-speakers-topics/. live.
  26. Web site: Singapore government warns digital revolution will impact jobs . zdnet. . 2020-03-30 . 2020-09-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200918173028/https://www.zdnet.com/article/singapore-government-warns-digital-revolution-will-impact-jobs/ . live .
  27. Burmese python target reflectivity compared to natural Florida foliage background reflectivity.. 2019. 31044871. Driggers. R.. Furxhi. O.. Vaca. G.. Reumers. V.. Vazimali. M.. Short. R.. Agrawal. P.. Lambrechts. A.. Charle. W.. Vunckx. K.. Arvidson. C.. Applied Optics. 58. 13. D98–D104. 10.1364/AO.58.000D98. 2019ApOpt..58D..98D. 143421868 .
  28. Jun. James J.. Steinmetz. Nicholas A.. Siegle. Joshua H.. Denman. Daniel J.. Bauza. Marius. Barbarits. Brian. Lee. Albert K.. Anastassiou. Costas A.. Andrei. Alexandru. Aydın. Çağatay. Barbic. Mladen. November 2017. Fully integrated silicon probes for high-density recording of neural activity. Nature. en. 551. 7679. 232–236. 10.1038/nature24636. 29120427 . 1476-4687. 5955206. 2017Natur.551..232J .
  29. News: Elon Musk's Neuralink Wants 'Sewing Machine-Like' Robots to Wire Brains to the Internet . The New York Times . 17 July 2019 . Markoff . John . 30 March 2020 . 20 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220720213845/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/technology/neuralink-elon-musk.html . live .
  30. Web site: 200 Belgian experts must unravel secret Alzheimer's . hln.be . 2020-03-30 . 2023-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230822164702/https://www.hln.be/de-krant/200-belgische-experts-moeten-geheim-alzheimer-ontrafelen~a2224e05/?referer=https://www.google.com/ . live .
  31. Web site: A JOINT VENTURE OF 5 LEUVEN MINDGATE MEMBERS RECEIVES $ 1 MILLION FOR RESEARCH INTO PARKINSON'S. leuvenmindgate.be. 2020-03-30. 2019-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20191211132617/https://www.leuvenmindgate.be/news/a-joint-venture-of-4-leuven-mindgate-members-receives-1-million-to-research-into-parkinsons. live.
  32. Web site: A brain-on-a-chip towards a cure for Parkinson's disease. missionlucidity. 2020-03-30. 2020-09-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929201327/https://www.missionlucidity.com/project/brain-chip. live.
  33. Web site: Imec awarded NASA grant to advance space health diagnostics. newelectronics.co.uk. 25 November 2019. 30 March 2020. 11 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191211132605/http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/nasa-grant-for-imec-to-advance-space-health-diagnostics-with-midiagnostics-device/221751/. live.
  34. Web site: Wearables gradually move beyond the wrist, and into hearts and minds (literally). cnbc.. 31 December 2016. 30 March 2020. 14 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200814090642/https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/30/wearables-gradually-move-beyond-the-wrist-and-into-hearts-and-minds-literally.html. live.
  35. Blanco-Almazán. Dolores. Groenendaal. Willemijn. Catthoor. Francky. Jané. Raimon. Chest Movement and Respiratory Volume both Contribute to Thoracic Bioimpedance during Loaded Breathing. Scientific Reports. 9. 1. 2019. 20232. 2045-2322. 10.1038/s41598-019-56588-4. 6934864 . 31882841. 2019NatSR...920232B. free.
  36. Web site: 14 May 2019 . Imec develops a wearable fetal ECG monitor for pregnant moms . venturebeat. . 30 March 2020 . 5 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200805142342/https://venturebeat.com/2019/05/14/imec-develops-a-wearable-fetal-ecg-monitor-for-pregnant-moms/ . live .
  37. Web site: The promise of 'ingestibles': In health care, the race is on to put sensors in your gut. statnews.. 29 January 2019. 30 March 2020. 27 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200427045355/https://www.statnews.com/2019/01/29/ingestibles-gut-sensors-health-care-entrepreneurs/. live.
  38. Web site: COVID-19 breath sampler imec . 2023-10-22 . imec-int. . en . 2023-11-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231105111012/https://www.imec-int.com/en/expertise/health-technologies/coronavirus-breathalyzer . live .

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