Imec
Encyclopedia
Imec is a micro-
and nanoelectronics
research center headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, with offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, China and Japan. Its staff of about 1,900 people includes more than 500 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2010, imec's revenue (P&L) was 285 million euro.
Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a "stichting van openbaar nut"), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Flemish government), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.) and imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.).
started a comprehensive program in the field of microelectronics
to strengthen the microelectronics industry in Flanders. One of the initiatives of the Flemish
program was the establishment of a laboratory for advanced research in microelectronics, which was to become imec. imec built on the academic reputation and prominence of the Catholic University of Leuven
(Katholiek Universiteit Leuven, or 'KUL') and in particular its ESAT laboratory. Another initiative was a training program for VLSI design engineers (INVOMEC & MTC, Microelectronics Training Center, now incorporated in imec). IMEC started in 1984 as a non-profit organization led by Professor Roger Van Overstraeten (Catholic University of Leuven
), and under the supervision of a Board of Directors, with delegates from industry, Flemish universities, and the Flemish government
. In June 1999, Professor Gilbert Declerck succeeded Roger Van Overstraeten as imec's CEO. IMOMEC (Institute for Materials Research in MicroElectronics) , since 2001 the department of IMEC at the university campus in Diepenbeek, is the largest research institute of Hasselt University
In 2005, IMEC and TNO
set up Holst Centre. Holst Centre is a research center with the mission to create generic technologies and enhance the innovative power in the fields of Wireless Autonomous Transducer Solutions and Systems-in-Foil. Holst Centre is located on the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. By 2008, imec has grown into one of the world's premier micro- and nanoelectronics R&D centers, employing some 1,600 researchers and engineers. Crucially, imec now counts virtually all of the top semiconductor manufacturers among its core technology partners (eg Intel, Samsung
, Panasonic
, NVIDIA
, STMicroelectronics
, NXP Semiconductors, GLOBALFOUNDRIES
, TSMC
, Hynix
, ASML
, Xilinx
, Altera
, Cadence Design Systems
, Qualcomm
, Renesas, Siltronic
, etc.) as well as most of the major capital equipment developers and manufacturers. In 2010, imec changed its name from IMEC (Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre) to imec. imec hosts a number of yearly renowned conferences and technology review meetings (eg ARRM, UCPSS), and provides a unique space where new technologies and techniques can be assessed, developed, refined and validated.
Microelectronics
Microelectronics is a subfield of electronics. As the name suggests, microelectronics relates to the study and manufacture of very small electronic components. Usually, but not always, this means micrometre-scale or smaller,. These devices are made from semiconductors...
and nanoelectronics
Nanoelectronics
Nanoelectronics refer to the use of nanotechnology on electronic components, especially transistors. Although the term nanotechnology is generally defined as utilizing technology less than 100 nm in size, nanoelectronics often refer to transistor devices that are so small that inter-atomic...
research center headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, with offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, China and Japan. Its staff of about 1,900 people includes more than 500 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2010, imec's revenue (P&L) was 285 million euro.
Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a "stichting van openbaar nut"), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Flemish government), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.) and imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.).
History
The history of imec dates back to 1982 when the Flemish governmentFlemish government
The Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...
started a comprehensive program in the field of microelectronics
Microelectronics
Microelectronics is a subfield of electronics. As the name suggests, microelectronics relates to the study and manufacture of very small electronic components. Usually, but not always, this means micrometre-scale or smaller,. These devices are made from semiconductors...
to strengthen the microelectronics industry in Flanders. One of the initiatives of the Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
program was the establishment of a laboratory for advanced research in microelectronics, which was to become imec. imec built on the academic reputation and prominence of the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
(Katholiek Universiteit Leuven, or 'KUL') and in particular its ESAT laboratory. Another initiative was a training program for VLSI design engineers (INVOMEC & MTC, Microelectronics Training Center, now incorporated in imec). IMEC started in 1984 as a non-profit organization led by Professor Roger Van Overstraeten (Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
), and under the supervision of a Board of Directors, with delegates from industry, Flemish universities, and the Flemish government
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
. In June 1999, Professor Gilbert Declerck succeeded Roger Van Overstraeten as imec's CEO. IMOMEC (Institute for Materials Research in MicroElectronics) , since 2001 the department of IMEC at the university campus in Diepenbeek, is the largest research institute of Hasselt University
Hasselt University
Hasselt University is a university with campuses in Hasselt and Diepenbeek, Belgium. It was founded in 1971, as the Limburgs Universitair Centrum...
In 2005, IMEC and TNO
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek or TNO is a not-for-profit organization in the Netherlands that focuses on applied science. The main office of TNO is located in Delft...
set up Holst Centre. Holst Centre is a research center with the mission to create generic technologies and enhance the innovative power in the fields of Wireless Autonomous Transducer Solutions and Systems-in-Foil. Holst Centre is located on the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. By 2008, imec has grown into one of the world's premier micro- and nanoelectronics R&D centers, employing some 1,600 researchers and engineers. Crucially, imec now counts virtually all of the top semiconductor manufacturers among its core technology partners (eg Intel, Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
, Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
, NVIDIA
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
, STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is an Italian-French electronics and semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.While STMicroelectronics corporate headquarters and the headquarters for EMEA region are based in Geneva, the holding company, STMicroelectronics N.V. is registered in Amsterdam,...
, NXP Semiconductors, GLOBALFOUNDRIES
GLOBALFOUNDRIES
GlobalFoundries Inc. is the world's third largest independent semiconductor foundry, with its headquarters located in Milpitas, California. GlobalFoundries was created by the divestiture of the manufacturing side of AMD on March 2, 2009, and was expanded through its merger with Chartered...
, TSMC
TSMC
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited or TSMC is the world's largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry, with its headquarters and main operations located in the Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan.-Overview:...
, Hynix
Hynix
Hynix Semiconductor Inc. chips and flash memory chips. Founded in 1983, Hynix is the world's second-largest memory chipmaker, the largest being Samsung Electronics. Formerly known as Hyundai Electronics, the company has manufacturing sites in Korea, the U.S., China and Taiwan...
, ASML
ASML Holding
ASML is a Dutch company and the largest supplier in the world of photolithography systems for the semiconductor industry. The company manufactures machines for the production of integrated circuits , such as RAM and flash memory chips and CPUs.-Products:...
, Xilinx
Xilinx
Xilinx, Inc. is a supplier of programmable logic devices. It is known for inventing the field programmable gate array and as the first semiconductor company with a fabless manufacturing model....
, Altera
Altera
Altera Corporation is a Silicon Valley manufacturer of PLDs . The company offered its first programmable logic device in 1984. PLDs can be reprogrammed during the design cycle as well as in the field to perform multiple functions, and they support a fairly fast design process...
, Cadence Design Systems
Cadence Design Systems
Cadence Design Systems, Inc is an electronic design automation software and engineering services company, founded in 1988 by the merger of SDA Systems and ECAD, Inc...
, Qualcomm
Qualcomm
Qualcomm is an American global telecommunication corporation that designs, manufactures and markets digital wireless telecommunications products and services based on its code division multiple access technology and other technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA...
, Renesas, Siltronic
Siltronic
Siltronic AG，is a Munich based company, which is one of the top Silicon Wafer suppliers in the world. It is 100% owned by Wacker Chemie AG and the single european-based Wafer supplier....
, etc.) as well as most of the major capital equipment developers and manufacturers. In 2010, imec changed its name from IMEC (Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre) to imec. imec hosts a number of yearly renowned conferences and technology review meetings (eg ARRM, UCPSS), and provides a unique space where new technologies and techniques can be assessed, developed, refined and validated.
Campus
The imec campus has 24,400m2 of office space, laboratories, training facilities, and technical support rooms. Showpieces are the two cleanrooms that run a semi-industrial operation. The newest infrastructure, compatible with the latest 300mm wafer standards, supports the More Moore research on sub-22 nm process technology. The second cleanroom handles wafers with a diameter of up to 200mm and is used for the More than Moore research. It supports semiconductor manufacturing processes with added functionality, such as sensors, actuators, and MEMS and NEMS. imec is currently in the process of extending its newest cleanroom facility and completion of the project is set for the Summer 2010. imec has, among others, a pilot line for silicon solar cells, unique laboratories for bioelectronics research, and state-of-the-art equipment for materials characterization and reliability testing. For the research on nomadic embedded systems, there are a DSP and multimedia lab, and the latest EDA tools.Research domains
- sub-22 nm CMOSCMOSComplementary metal–oxide–semiconductor is a technology for constructing integrated circuits. CMOS technology is used in microprocessors, microcontrollers, static RAM, and other digital logic circuits...
- CMOSCMOSComplementary metal–oxide–semiconductor is a technology for constructing integrated circuits. CMOS technology is used in microprocessors, microcontrollers, static RAM, and other digital logic circuits...
heterogeneous integration - Human++-biomedical electronics
- Wireless communication
- Nvision
- Energy
- NERF-Neuroelectronics Research Flanders
- Organic electronics
- CMOSCMOSComplementary metal–oxide–semiconductor is a technology for constructing integrated circuits. CMOS technology is used in microprocessors, microcontrollers, static RAM, and other digital logic circuits...
-based nanoelectronicsNanoelectronicsNanoelectronics refer to the use of nanotechnology on electronic components, especially transistors. Although the term nanotechnology is generally defined as utilizing technology less than 100 nm in size, nanoelectronics often refer to transistor devices that are so small that inter-atomic... - NanotechnologyNanotechnologyNanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
and post-CMOS nanoelectronics - Characterisation, reliability and modelling
- Multi-mode multimedia (M4) technologies
- Wireless autonomous transducer solutions
- Solar cellSolar cellA solar cell is a solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect....
s - Large-area CMOS-based Image Sensors (Back-illuminated CIS)
- Advanced packaging and interconnection technologies ([Bumping], [WLP])
- 3D-chip stacking (Through-Silicon ViasThrough-silicon viaIn electronic engineering, a through-silicon via is a vertical electrical connection passing completely through a silicon wafer or die...
) - Power-efficient devices based on III-V Materials (GaNGanGan may refer to:-Computing and telecommunications:*.gan, the file extension for documents created by GanttProject*Generic Access Network formerly known as Unlicensed Mobile Access *Global Area Network- Mythology :...
, GaAs...) - BioelectronicsBioelectronicsBioelectronics is a recently coined term for a field of research that works to establish a synergy between electronics and biology. One of the main forums for information about the field is the Elsevier journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics, published since 1990...
and NeuroprostheticsNeuroprostheticsNeuroprosthetics is a discipline related to neuroscience and biomedical engineering concerned with developing neural prostheses.... - Organic electronicsOrganic electronicsOrganic electronics, plastic electronics or polymer electronics, is a branch of electronics dealing with conductive polymers, plastics, or small molecules. It is called 'organic' electronics because the polymers and small molecules are carbon-based...
- RFRadio frequencyRadio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
devices and technology - MEMS for RF and millimeterwave applications
- Design methodologies and technology in the context of EDAElectronic design automationElectronic design automation is a category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits...
- Power MEMS
- EUVL
See also
- Flanders Technology International
- Institute for the promotion of Innovation by Science and TechnologyInstitute for the promotion of Innovation by Science and TechnologyThe Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology is a public institution in Flanders to provide R&D and innovation support. The institute was established by the Flemish government in 1991...
(IWT) - Science and technology in FlandersScience and technology in FlandersScience and technology in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium , is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes...