Despite the recent decision by Imec to establish a research factory in Malaga, Andalusia, the state of Saxony is still actively trying to attract the Belgian semiconductor research giant to consider a similar venture in Dresden. Martin Dulig, the Saxon Minister of Economic Affairs from the SPD party, shared these intentions during a press conference on the performance of the Saxony Economic Development Agency, in response to an inquiry from Oiger. “Yes, we still see opportunities for this,” he stated, highlighting ongoing efforts.
For years, Saxony has been keen to lure Imec to what's affectionately known as “Silicon Saxony”. The reason behind this pursuit is clear: Imec is a key player in the next-generation microelectronics research on a global scale. Dulig pointed out that anyone looking to make a significant impact in the semiconductor industry can hardly afford to overlook this major research institution based in Leuven, Belgium.
The desire to host Imec in Saxony isn't new. The region has a long history of prominence in microelectronics, dating back to its contributions during the East German period, including the development of the East German megabit circuit. Post-reunification saw the entry of semiconductor titans like Siemens, Infineon, Qimonda, AMD, Globalfoundries, and even Bosch into Saxony. Recent major investments by Infineon and TSMC have further solidified Dresden, Chemnitz, and Freiberg as a significant semiconductor hub, known as “Silicon Saxony”. This hub is responsible for around 73,000 jobs and generates more than 16 billion euros in annual revenue across the chip, software, and related industries. Saxony's unique concentration of institutes, including TU Dresden's microelectronics research, Namlab, Bergakademie, Helmholtz Center Dresden-Rossendorf, and notably, Fraunhofer, adds to its stature.
Over ten years ago, the Tillich government attempted to set up an Imec branch in Dresden, recognizing Imec's significant influence and capacity in preliminary semiconductor research, looking decades into the future. With more than 5,000 experts, Imec stands out as a premier research center, unmatched in Germany for its focus on microelectronics.
An earlier bid for Imec's presence in Saxony was reportedly met with positive signals from Leuven but ultimately fell through, partly due to local opposition. Dulig delicately described these past challenges as stemming from "competition". According to Oiger, Fraunhofer was concerned that a local Imec branch could divert research contracts away from its photonics institute, IPMS, and other Fraunhofer institutes specializing in microelectronics in Saxony.
Nonetheless, Dulig remains optimistic about the possibilities. The dynamic has seemingly changed, with all parties recognizing that competition, particularly against formidable rivals in Asia and the USA, is less productive than collaboration. This shift in mindset has revived Saxony's interest in Imec, leading to renewed inquiries about the potential for a Dresden-based branch. The response from Flanders has been encouraging, with Ludo Deferm, the former Vice President of Imec, not dismissing such prospects during his visit to Dresden, suggesting an openness if "we are welcome here".
The announcement of Imec's branch in Malaga might have initially seemed like a setback for Saxony's ambitions. However, the dialogue between Dresden and Leuven continues, indicating that the possibility of Imec setting up in Saxony is still very much alive.
