The Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM) held the second edition of the Innovation Day: Chips de km 0 (Zero kilometer Chips), an event aimed at bringing together companies, researchers, and other stakeholders in the sector to foster connections and potential partnerships that could support the development of Spanish and European electronics.
Display of Prototypes and Research Lines at the Innovation Day Event.Photo by Núria Aguadé
The event brought together over 170 attendees from companies, business associations, independent professionals, and research personnel. They had the opportunity to attend two debates and six talks, covering topics such as the evolution of the microelectronics sector in recent years, training needs, the allocation of funding, and the importance of technology transfer to enhance collaboration between industry and research.
The second edition of the Innovation Day: Chips de km 0, organised by the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM, CSIC), was held on 27 November at the Exe Campus Hotel in Cerdanyola del Vallès from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The first debate featured contributions from Luis Fonseca, Director of IMB-CNM and Research Professor at CSIC; Jaime Martorell, Vice-President of the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation at the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service; Thomas Kallstenius, Coordinator of IMEC Spain Activities; Roger Costa, Head of Strategic Projects at the Directorate General of Industry of the Government of Catalonia; and José Antonio Garrido, ICREA Research Professor at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and representative of the Lab-to-Fab Innofab proposal.
All participants emphasised the strong position of the microelectronics sector, thanks to the extensive pool of professionals involved and the availability of multiple funding channels through strategic projects such as the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PERTE Chip) or the European Chips Act. They also stressed the need for continued growth, through the arrival of new companies or the establishment of new semiconductor manufacturing facilities, such as the Innofab pre-production technology centre for advanced material chips. This initiative has the backing of organisations like IMB-CNM-CSIC, ICN2, the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), and the Alba Synchrotron, as well as support from the Government of Catalonia.
In this regard, Martorell emphasised that “it is crucial to work on identifying key projects like IMEC, which are essential for developing and consolidating the microelectronics ecosystem in Spain and becoming part of the European ecosystem.”
Another key factor in this development and consolidation lies in the fact that investment in microelectronics far surpasses that of any other sector in recent years. A public investment of €12.25 billion is planned in Spain between 2022 and 2027 through the PERTE Chip initiative, alongside €43 billion in public and private investment across Europe under the European Chips Act.
Costa, representing the Alliance of Semiconductors and Chips of Catalonia, commented on the importance of collaboration through the European Semiconductor Alliance. Its aim, he explained, is “to try to join forces to maintain closer contact with our government [the Catalan government] and European bodies, helping them to understand our ecosystem and its capabilities, while coordinating actions with other regions with similar interests.”
Kallstenius highlighted the ambitious nature of IMEC’s plans for Málaga, as it will be the first time they establish a production plant outside Belgium. He expressed gratitude for the support provided by Spanish authorities at various levels and emphasised the commitment to building a strong foundation for collaboration with the Spanish ecosystem, recognising that a plant of this scale will take several years to develop.
Fonseca urged the various stakeholders at the table to work together to define a value chain among current and future players in the manufacturing ecosystem so that each contribution complements the others effectively.
Collaboration and Training: Key Elements for the Development of the Microelectronics Sector
The conference was attended by Ana Castro, Vice-President of Innovation and Technology Transfer at CSIC, who presented CSIC’s Converge hub. This initiative connects researchers with businesses and drives open innovation.
Mutual understanding and strong relationships between academia and industry are two of the cornerstones for improving collaboration. To illustrate this, four success stories were presented by Germán Vergara, Technical Director of New Infrared Technologies (NIT); Rosendo Garganta, Founder and CEO of Devicare; Miguel Ángel Pérez, Director of Innovation and Digital Transformation at Fagor Electrónica; and Alberto Hernández, Scientific Director of Arrays for Cell Nanodevices (A4cell). They showcased their latest devices, many of which originated from ideas supported by research conducted at IMB-CNM, whether at the level of microelectronic design or manufacturing using the Micro and Nanofabrication Cleanroom. The examples spanned a broad spectrum of companies—large, medium, and small—and highlighted the enduring nature of many of these collaborations.
Vergara noted that the relationship between his company and the institute had always been excellent throughout more than 20 years of collaboration. Adding a touch of humour, he remarked, “The only difference is that you support Barça, and we support Real Madrid.”
Daniela Bassignana, Project Manager at D+T Microelectrónica A.I.E. and ISO Quality Manager for the IMB-CNM Cleanroom, emphasised what is essential for fostering professional collaboration between research and companies. “Good management equals quality management,” she said, referring to ISO9001 certification, which represents a significant achievement in these collaborations. This accreditation confirms IMB-CNM’s commitment to providing continuous support and improvements for businesses.
Gonzalo Murillo, recipient of the 2023 Ángela Ruiz Robles National Research Award for Young Researchers in Technology Transfer, a researcher at IMB-CNM, and co-founder of the spin-off Energiot, shared what he considers to be the keys to success in entrepreneurship: “Surround yourself with great travel companions, stop trying to sell the product to the customer, and focus instead on understanding their needs to propose solutions accordingly. Take the product out of the lab and test it in the real world.”
Cecilia Jiménez, Scientific Researcher at IMB-CNM and co-founder of AIQUOS, moderated a roundtable discussion on the sector’s needs. Participants included Núria Barniol, UAB Coordinator of the Master's in Semiconductor Engineering and Microelectronic Design; Albert Casas, Commercial Manager and Director of the Microelectronics Division at INCORPORATECHNO Group; Montserrat Guàrdia, Chief People & Culture Officer at IDEADED and President of the Social Council of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia; Gonzalo Murillo; and Carles Oriach, Strategy and Development Director at Monocrom.
The discussion revolved around the question, “Is there sufficient academic training available to produce skilled professionals?” To address this, the creation of the University Master’s in Semiconductor Engineering and Microelectronic Design and the vocational training courses offered by INCORPORATECHNO were highlighted. Barniol spoke of the innovation represented by “having created a professional master’s in microelectronics with professionals from four Catalan public universities and IMB-CNM-CSIC” and stressed that “companies are deeply involved, as they participate in the advisory committee, guide students, and communicate their needs to them.”
Meanwhile, Casas underscored the importance of “continuing to train active professionals, enabling them to pivot within the sector through technical training courses.” Guàrdia added, “A great opportunity to achieve this is by offering microcredentials to workers.”
They agreed that it is just as important to attract new workers as it is to retain the ones already in place. To achieve this, they highlighted the importance of offering good job opportunities and balancing monetary compensation with working conditions. Oriach emphasised that “there must be clear career plans so that employees understand how they can progress within the company and the opportunities available to them.”
Zero Kilometer Chips: Positive Impact and Diverse Applications
“We are very pleased with the outcome of the Innovation Day: Chips de km 0. The goal of the event is to showcase the positive impact of our collaborative results with companies in such diverse applications as medicine, life sciences, and energy,” said the Director of IMB-CNM at the conclusion of the event. “Without a doubt, these testimonials from satisfied ‘clients’ are the best ambassadors for the diverse potential of semiconductor technology in general, and zero kilometer technology in particular,” he concluded.
Comunicación IMB-CNM