Overview
imec is a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics, energy, and digital technologies. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Leuven, it employs over 5,500 researchers across more than 1,000 dedicated to semiconductor and deep tech research, and collaborates with major chip manufacturers, universities, and tech companies globally. The organization operates four strategic research centers covering semiconductors, energy, health, and digital.
imec runs the imec.istart accelerator to commercialize its research into startups, and feeds deal flow into imec.xpand, the independent EUR 300M fund (Fund II, 2024) that backs semiconductor and deep-tech spin-offs at venture scale. imec also operates Wintercircus in Ghent as a broader startup campus. Spin-offs include Axithra, Swave Photonics, and other deep tech ventures emerging from its labs.
Its influence on the Belgian tech ecosystem is fundamental, both as a talent engine and as the primary source of the Semiconductors & Photonics cluster centered on Leuven.
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In the news
- Meet Flanders Semiconductors and our members at SEMI Europe 2026! Find Flanders Semiconductors at booth B1.236, in collaboration with Flanders Investment & Trade - Germany. We look forward to connecting with you and introducing you to our semiconductor ecosystem. Explore our members’ technologies and expertise across the exhibition: • Axelera AI - B1.534 • CRC Engineering bv - B1.236 and C2.255 • FUJIFILM Electronic Materials (Europe) N.V. - B1.516 • Gpixel NV - B1.236 • Industrialise BV - B1.236 • Inventec Performance
- Ontdek onze <edtech/station> members en projecten op Flanders Technology & Innovation 2026 Op Flanders Technology & Innovation Kortrijk zie je hoe technologie het klaslokaal binnenkomt. Kinderen en leerlingen proberen er de tools zelf uit, en leerkrachten ontdekken hoe ze die morgen in hun klas kunnen inzetten. We gingen langs bij een aantal van onze <edtech/station>-leden en bij ons eigen BOOST-project 👇 Smart Symbols Hoe zet je technologie zinvol en echt ondersteunend in, in de kleuterklas? Smart Symbols laat het zien. die
- Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele visits the x-CITE booth in Barcelona! x-CITE explores how new technologies can make urban planning more interactive and accessible. Using extended reality (XR), cities and residents can explore proposed changes in virtual environments, see how they might affect their surroundings, and have a say in the plans before decisions are made. Imagine seeing how a new development could affect your daily life, walking through a virtual version of your future neighbourhood, or using augmented
- We’re at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2026! Today, DS4SSCC joins cities, innovators and partners at the European Twinning & CiTiVERSE Plaza to explore how data sharing can create public value, support Positive Energy Districts and help cities make better decisions. 🗓️ Today’s programme | 3 November Data Sharing and Public Value 🔋 11:00–11:15 | Data Space for Positive Energy Districts Demo: Sofia use case with Dessislava Petrova-Antonova, GATE Institute. 📍 Pavilion Sandbox area 🌐 12:00–12:30 | Positioning of the
- Europe has the research strength, industrial base and talent to lead the next wave of AI. The question is how to turn those assets into technological and economic advantage. At ITF Chip into the Future, we’ll examine what emerging AI workloads require from silicon, why chiplet architectures matter for autonomous edge systems, and which conditions are needed to scale a competitive European AI ecosystem. The program brings together perspectives from across the semiconductor, AI, robotics and deep-tech venture landscape, connecting
- During our Partner Technical Week, we explored a question that will help shape the future of our industry: how do we inspire the innovators who will build 2040? Moderated by Katrien Marent, The Awe Gap panel brought together perspectives from industry, education and research to discuss the future semiconductor talent pipeline. One message stood out: talent development starts long before recruitment. It starts with curiosity, exposure, role models and the confidence to see a place for yourself in science and technology. Young people
- How can mobility data help public authorities understand whether transport services meet people’s everyday needs? 🚲 🚌 In Fryslân, journeys between cities, villages and rural areas connect people to work, education, healthcare and essential services. Understanding these different needs is central to the region’s contribution to DYNAMO. In this interview, Arjen de Vries, Innovation Programme Manager at DataFryslân, explains how the pilot is testing ways to share and combine mobility data, and why clear agreements and trust
- Our mission? Building the technology behind tomorrow's workloads. As AI and HPC workloads continue to evolve, the challenge is no longer just delivering more compute. Future performance will increasingly depend on how we optimize workloads, move data efficiently, manage thermal constraints, and adapt system architectures across the entire computing stack. Visit the imec booth #4804 to discover how we're helping industry prepare for the next generation of computing with: ✅ AI workload benchmarking & optimization ✅ Thermal emulator
Alumni 28 went on to found or lead
An SteegenSenior Vice President Advanced Technology R&D→CEO at Barco
Bart DierickxResearcher→Founder & CTO at Caeleste
Brecht ClaerhoutResearcher→Chief Executive Officer (representing illustris BV) at ONTOFORCE
Buvana LefevrePhD student→Founder at Alari Technologies
David CastroIndustrial Management Internship→Chairman and Co-founder at Qplox engineering- PDieter VelpenProcess Development Engineer for OLED applications→Founder at Construct3d
Dirk AvauResearcher→Founder - CEO at IntellectEU
Gauthier RodaroSoftware Engineer→Co-Founder & CEO at Enobase
Geert PalmersResearch on high efficiency photovoltaic solar cells→Co-Founder, CEO 1999 - 2019 - Director at 3E
Ingrid WillemsEntrepreneur in Residence→CEO & cofounder at DataScouts
Jelle DemeulemeesterResearch Scientist - Atom Probe Tomography→Managing Partner - CEO at mynd
Johan CockxSenior Researcher→Cofounder, core development at Embeetle
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