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Imec is the world’s largest independent research and innovation center for nanoelectronics and digital technologies, based in Leuven, Belgium. It develops smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient chips, advancing technologies such as AI hardware, photonics, quantum computing, and sustainable solutions for health, energy, and agritech. Operating as a nonprofit, imec sustains its research through industrial affiliation programs and collaborations with leading semiconductor companies and equipment vendors, including TSMC, ASML, Intel, and Samsung. The organization has grown significantly since its inception, now employing over 5,500 individuals worldwide. It was founded in 1984 by a group of visionary researchers from KU Leuven, led by Professor Roger Van Overstraeten. Its business model centers on nonprofit organization funded initially by the Flemish government and sustained through industrial affiliation programs, partnerships, and collaborations that share R&D costs and knowledge.
Key people at imec.
imec was founded in 1984 by Roger Van Overstraeten (Founder).
imec has 7 tracked investments across 7 companies. The latest tracked deal is $43.0M Seed Extension in Vertical Compute in March 2026.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 5, 2026 | Vertical Compute | $43.0M Seed Extension | William Zeng | Bpifrance, Drysdale, Thomas Turelier, Vincent Hebbelynck, TOM Vanhoutte, Invest.bw, Kima Ventures, Noshaq, Sambrinvest, Vector Gestion, Vlaio, Wallonie Entreprendre, Guilhem DE Vregille |
| Sep 16, 2025 | OnTracx | $1.4M Seed | — | KBC, PMV |
| Jan 3, 2025 | Swave Photonics | $31.4M Series A | Imec.xpand, SFPIM Relaunch | EIC Fund, IAG Capital Partners, Luminate, Murata Electronics, PMV, Qbic |
| Mar 12, 2024 | MICLEDI Microdisplays | $30.0M Series A | — | Imec.xpand, KBC, PMV, Sfpi Fpim |
| Feb 1, 2022 | Celestial AI | $56.0M Series A | Isaac Sigron | Applied Ventures, Walden International, Thomas Tull, Reed Sturtevant, Fitz Gate Ventures, Cyril Vancura, Merck, Temasek, The Engine, Tyche Partners, Phil Inagaki |
| Sep 16, 2021 | Axelera | $12.0M Seed | Bitfury | Imec.xpand, Innovation Industries |
| Apr 24, 2019 | Onera Health | $9.3M Series A | — | BOM, Imec.xpand, JED Black |
imec was founded in 1984 by Roger Van Overstraeten (Founder).
Imec is not a traditional company but the world's leading independent nanoelectronics and digital technologies R&D hub, headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, with over 6,000 researchers driving advancements in semiconductors, AI, silicon photonics, and beyond-5G tech.[2][1][7] Founded as a non-profit in 1984, imec's mission is to make chips smaller, faster, more affordable, and sustainable to address global challenges like climate change, healthcare, and energy, generating over €940 million in annual turnover primarily from industry partnerships while boosting Flanders' ecosystem with 13,400 jobs, including 2,900 in spin-offs.[2][3] Operating globally with facilities in Europe, the US, UK, and Asia, imec excels in cooperative R&D, leveraging 12,000 m² cleanrooms for breakthroughs in areas like perovskite solar cells, brain-computer interfaces, and Industry 5.0 sensors.[1][2][6]
Imec was founded in 1984 in Leuven, Belgium, by a group of visionary young researchers—many trained in Silicon Valley—who aimed to create an "electronics superlab" to spark an industrial revolution in Flanders, backed by generous Flemish government funding.[3][2] Starting with 70 people focused on shrinking CMOS chips per Moore's Law under CEOs like Roger Van Overstraeten, Gilbert Declerck, and current leader Luc Van den hove, imec grew to 6,000 staff by emphasizing neutral, application-driven R&D without ties to a dominant local semiconductor firm.[4][3] Pivotal moments include joining Solliance in 2010 for thin-film solar, launching EnergyVille in 2011 for sustainable energy, merging with iMinds in 2016 for hardware-software integration, and expanding globally via centers like Holst Centre (2005, Netherlands) and OnePlanet (2019).[3]
Imec rides the semiconductor renaissance amid US-China tensions and EU Chips Act pushes, positioning Europe as a neutral R&D leader in scaling chips for AI, 6G, quantum, and green tech—critical as demand surges for sustainable, efficient hardware.[4][6][2] Timing is ideal: with no major Belgian chipmaker, imec's independence attracts global partners, countering cyclic industry volatility while amplifying local ecosystems (e.g., Flanders startups, Eindhoven sensors).[3][4] It influences the ecosystem by exporting its model—e.g., US presence for STCO/DTCO—accelerating innovations in EVs, precision health, and decarbonization, proving public investment yields massive returns.[2][5]
Imec is poised to dominate next-gen chip R&D, scaling EU Chips Act initiatives like IC-Link for manufacturable breakthroughs in 2D materials, beyond-5G, and climate tech, potentially birthing more spin-offs amid AI/hardware convergence.[6][3] Trends like Industry 5.0, neurodegenerative cures, and energy transition will propel growth, evolving imec's influence from Europe's "chip lab" to a indispensable global neutral hub shaping sustainable tech's future—echoing its founding bet on nanoelectronics as the enabler of tomorrow.[2][4]
Key people at imec.
