As the semiconductor industry faces unprecedented demand for cutting-edge technologies, Imec, a global leader in nanoelectronics research, is stepping up as the essential bridge between groundbreaking innovation and commercial success.
During the recent Imec Technology Forum in Taiwan, Olivier Rousseaux(OR), Director of Venture Development at Imec, exclusively shared with DIGITIMES Asia (DT) about the Belgium research center's crucial role in the semiconductor ecosystem and how it has been fostering smaller ventures to thrive within it.
DT: What is Imec's role in the semiconductor industry, and how does it fit into the broader ecosystem?
OR: Imec is at the heart of deep tech innovation, particularly in nanoelectronics and nanomaterials. We have a multifaceted approach that caters to different business models and customers, but the core of what we do is pioneering research and development for the semiconductor industry. With over 5,500 researchers and cutting-edge infrastructure, including the latest semiconductor equipment from ASML, our headquarters houses one of the most advanced R&D dedicated foundries in the world. Unlike other state-of-the-art foundries, which are geared towards mass production, Imec's facilities are exclusively focused on research.
In addition, we don't just work in isolation; Imec is deeply integrated into the global semiconductor ecosystem. We collaborate with more than 700 companies worldwide, ranging from material suppliers and equipment manufacturers to fabless companies, foundries, and IDMs. By partnering with these key players, Imec ensures that the innovations coming out of our cleanrooms are tailored to the needs of the industry, laying the groundwork for technological advancements that will shape the future of electronics for decades to come.
DT: What role does Imec play in supporting and collaborating with start-ups?
OR: While we collaborate with tech giants on high-volume production, Imec also has a critical role in supporting emerging players and start-ups, where we offer a unique value proposition. Many of these start-ups face challenges in scaling their innovations due to the high production requirements of major foundries like TSMC. For example, if a start-up request changes to production lines for a small batch of wafers, it's unlikely that a large-scale foundry would adjust its processes for such low volumes. That's where Imec steps in.
Our infrastructure is designed to bridge the gap between research and large-scale production. We support these smaller companies by facilitating low-volume pilot production and providing them access to high-end research capabilities. By doing so, we help start-ups gain traction in the market, refine their technologies, and secure their first customers. Once they've established sufficient market demand, larger foundries can step in to handle high-volume production. Imec plays an indispensable role in this transition from lab innovation to market viability, giving start-ups the tools they need to scale their operations and eventually collaborate with industry giants.
DT: Imec.DeepTechVentures invests in deep tech start-ups. How does your organization's role differ from that of Intel Capital or the Vision Fund?
OR: The key difference between us and funds like Intel Capital or SoftBank's Vision Fund is that we are more than just investors. Imec.DeepTechVentures operates as a venture creation studio, deeply embedded within Imec's research ecosystem. We're not just providing financial capital; we actively work with researchers to transform cutting-edge ideas into viable businesses.
Imec does have a deep tech fund, imec.xpand, which has raised between EUR 400 to 470 million, making it one of Europe's largest early-stage deep tech funds. It's independently managed but works closely with Imec, focusing on spin-offs and start-ups that are directly tied to our research.
On the other hand my team, Imec.DeepTechVentures, works in two main capacities.
First, we identify promising technologies from within Imec and develop them into fully-fledged ventures. We work hand-in-hand with inventors to shape business plans, conduct market research, anticipate product development roadmaps, and assemble the right teams, often bringing in external executives to lead the start-up alongside our researchers. Essentially, we take raw ideas and mold them into investor-ready companies, facilitating about five to seven new ventures annually.
Secondly, we also work with early-stage deep tech ventures from outside Imec, particularly those in fields that complement our research focus. These ventures benefit from our infrastructure and know-how, accelerating their R&D and bringing their products to market more quickly. We treat these external ventures almost like our own spin-offs, fostering close collaboration that helps them push technological boundaries. In many cases, this collaboration allows these companies to achieve breakthroughs that wouldn't be possible on their own. We also connect these ventures with our network of investors and provide strategic support, helping them scale more effectively.
DT: Can you provide specific examples of start-ups developed under these two models?
OR: One notable example is Swave Photonics, which emerged from an idea developed at Imec. We found a unique way to repurpose phase-change materials, typically used in memory chips, to create pixel arrays capable of generating 3D holographic images. This innovation was spun out into a company, which has since raised seed funding, developed prototypes, and secured initial commercial engagements. They're now raising a Series A to move beyond the prototype stage. While not public yet, they're collaborating with a Taiwanese foundry as they transition from lab-scale production to full-scale manufacturing.
Other examples include Axelera AI, which focuses on AI acceleration hardware and software, and Spectricity, which specializes in hyperspectral imaging for consumer electronics.
DT: What deep tech areas are Imec and its venture division particularly focused on? Which sectors do you find most promising?
OR: Over the past decade, deep tech has expanded beyond its initial focus on ICT to impact a wide range of industries, from transportation to healthcare. Semiconductor advancements, once primarily used in mobile phones and computers, are now critical to fields like automotive, life sciences, and energy. For example, the time and cost to sequence a human genome have drastically decreased thanks to semiconductor technology.
Imec focuses on sectors where chip technology and nanomaterials can revolutionize industries. This includes computing, imaging, and communications—traditional sectors for semiconductors—as well as emerging fields like life sciences, medical technology, and automotive. AI and computing are particularly exciting areas, where we're exploring more powerful, energy-efficient architectures for embedded AI. For instance, we're working on AR glasses that could run AI processing locally—something not possible today.
In healthcare, new therapies and diagnostic methods will be transformed by deep tech, and the same applies to the automotive sector, where semiconductors will play a game-changing role in the cars of the future.
DT: Can you share examples of ventures created in these sectors?
OR: Axelera AI is a prime example of innovation in AI computing. Their technology processes images and extracts data at the edge, eliminating the need to send full images to a data center. In life sciences, we've supported an external venture in proteomics, aiming to detect single protein molecules, a breakthrough that could revolutionize diagnostics and next-generation therapies. In automotive, while we're still in the concept stage, we're exploring technologies for self-driving cars, advanced sensing, and new intelligence interfaces within vehicles.
DT: Any message you'd like to convey to the semiconductor start-ups in Taiwan and beyond?
OR: Imec would like to make a call to all the deep tech entrepreneurs in Taiwan. You have here in Taiwan, fantastic foundries, and commercial foundries, but you might not have the path to go into them.
So contemplate working with Imec to develop processes that can embody your innovation in a way that's compatible with the foundries, and where we can support you to drive up the demand volumes while you are getting ready to be picked up then by the local players here in Taiwan. Think about Imec, we can help you.
