Málaga has been selected as the new location for a branch of IMEC, the world's leading semiconductor research and development center with 450 researchers. The announcement was made by the Spanish minister for digital transformation, José Luis Escrivá, who revealed that the city would host Inter-University Microelectronics Centre's new headquarters in Spain. IMEC, founded in Belgium in 1984, is the leading laboratory for research and technology transfer in the field of semiconductors.
According to both the Spanish government and regional government, the research and development (R&D) center will be the first of its kind to be established by IMEC outside of Belgium. It will be situated at Málaga TechPark, where a 46,000 square meter plot has been designated. A building of approximately 32,000 square meters will be constructed at the site, and IMEC is expected to employ 450 highly qualified workers at its Malaga headquarters.
Minister Escrivá highlighted the collaborative efforts with the Andalusian regional government and the city council to establish the second IMEC center in the world in Málaga, expressing congratulations to Málaga and Andalucía for this significant achievement. Minister Carolina España emphasized that IMEC's presence in Málaga will facilitate the transfer of knowledge and cutting-edge technology in the semiconductor field, fostering collaboration with local companies and startups, thereby boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in Spain.
This milestone marks Malaga's first step in its strategic plan to become a prominent hub in the semiconductor industry. IMEC currently consists of around 5,500 researchers from 95 countries and boasts approximately 600 industrial partners, including major international companies in the sector.
