A grain of sand, a world of hope

Imagine a world without smartphones, the Internet, or mobile communications. A continent struck by famine. A mysterious, deadly virus spreading uncontrollably.

This isn’t the plot of a post-apocalyptic movie, but a firsthand account (by yours truly) from 1984. Modern communication technologies were just beginning to emerge, Ethiopia was grappling with a humanitarian crisis, and the HIV virus that causes AIDS was sowing fear across the globe.

Have we left such challenges behind? Unfortunately, the answer is far from simple. For instance, while medicine has never been better equipped to combat epidemics, recent history reminds us how profoundly a virus can disrupt our society.

Humanity's hope – embedded in a grain of sand

Still, amid these ongoing challenges, there is reason for optimism. Over the past four decades, technological advancements have transformed our world. High-performance computers analyze complex data, drive the development of groundbreaking medicines, and enable personalized (cancer) treatments. And sensor networks, autonomous vehicles, and AI applications all thrive on the immense power of modern computing too.

What drives these innovations? Microchip technology. Microchips, the engines of this incredible computing power, have become millions of times more powerful over the past few decades – making them the fastest-evolving technology in history.

What’s more, the promise of microchip technology doesn’t stop there. Integrated with quantum applications or microfluidic systems for biomedicine, these tiny marvels hold the potential to tackle some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.

“Microchips have become millions of times more powerful over the past few decades – making them the fastest-evolving technology in history.”

Obviously, one such challenge is energy consumption. While the capabilities of supercomputers, AI systems, and other chip-driven innovations are immense, their energy demands are equally significant. Thus, the microchip sector is actively working to reduce the environmental impact of its own operations and the transformative technologies it powers.

In the face of so many challenges, humanity's hope truly lies in a grain of sand.

The world's chip laboratory

For forty years, imec has been at the forefront of unlocking the immense potential of chip technology. This journey began in Leuven, Belgium, on January 16, 1984, with just 70 employees.

Today, imec is recognized as the world’s leading chip laboratory, powered by the expertise of over 5,500 specialists from across the globe and operating on three continents.

Our growth has been remarkable, both regionally and internationally. In 2024, we are projected to surpass 1 billion euros in revenue. We consistently rank among Belgium's most prolific patent applicants (with 187 filings in 2023). And, over the past forty years, we have launched more than 130 spin-offs and supported over 300 start-ups, securing nearly 1 billion euros in follow-on funding.

“At imec, we thrive on breaking barriers and building bridges – across technologies, industries, and geographical boundaries.”

What has remained, is our passion for disruptive innovation. At imec, we thrive on breaking barriers and building bridges across technologies, industries, and geographical boundaries. This commitment to open innovation is what enables microchip technology to create real impact – and it’s precisely what we’ve continued to deliver over the past year.

ASML and imec push the limits of light

A major technological milestone in 2024 was the opening of the High NA EUV Lithography Lab in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. Operated in partnership with ASML, this state-of-the-art facility gives chip makers a unique opportunity to experiment with cutting-edge lithography technology before these systems become available at their factories.

High NA EUV is the next milestone in optical lithography, promising the patterning of metal lines/spaces with 20 nm pitch in one single exposure and enabling the next generations of DRAM chips. This will improve yield and reduce cycle time and even CO₂ emissions compared to existing multi-patterning 0.33 NA EUV schemes.

As such, High NA EUV will be a key enabler to push Moore’s Law well into the ångström era.  

The automotive and chip industries join forces

Cross-industry collaboration also took center stage in 2024, with the launch of our Automotive Chiplet Program (ACP), aimed at shaping the future of automotive technology.

Microchips have been a part of automobiles since the late 1970s, optimizing systems like engine control. However, as vehicles become smarter and more connected, they require significantly more computing power to handle advanced electronics. 'Chiplets' – modular, task-specific chips that can be combined like Lego blocks to create complex systems – offer a promising solution.

Our ACP brings together industry leaders such as Arm, ASE, BMW Group, Bosch, Cadence, Siemens, Synopsys, Tenstorrent, and Valeo. Together, we are exploring chiplet-based solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the automotive industry.

Shared effort, shared success

Innovation rarely thrives in isolation. To make meaningful progress, international collaboration is essential.

This principle lies at the heart of the NanoIC pilot line for advanced chip technology. Backed by a joint investment of €2.5 billion from Europe, Flanders, and several imec industry partners, NanoIC embodies the vision of the EU Chips Act to accelerate innovation, stimulate economic growth, and bolster Europe’s chip industry. Through this imec-hosted pilot line, OEMs, SMEs, start-ups, universities, and design and system companies gain access to cutting-edge technology, tools, and software for prototyping chip solutions. This will enable them to take the lead in the development of breakthrough technologies, including the next generation of intelligent vehicles or innovative healthcare applications.

“To unlock the potential of microchips, we must embrace disruptive innovation over incremental change, prioritize collaboration over protectionism, and foster openness and transparency instead of working in silos.”

Last year, we also focused on strengthening our international presence – enabling us to work even more closely with our partners, attract local talent and support the development of new regional ecosystems. In Europe, we advanced several initiatives under the EU Chips Act and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Spanish government and the Andalusia region to establish a 300mm R&D process line for specialized chip technologies. Moreover, we reinforced relationships with partners in the US, Taiwan, and Korea. In Japan, we built on our collaboration with Rapidus to sign agreements with several Japanese universities.

Conclusion: from a grain of sand to tangible progress

Despite the challenges humanity faces, rapid advances in microchip technology offer hope for the future. However, to unlock the full potential of microchips, we must embrace disruptive innovation over incremental change, prioritize collaboration over protectionism, and foster openness and transparency instead of working in silos. It is this philosophy that is at the heart of imec and to which we remain fully committed.

For forty years, imec has been charting this ambitious course as the world’s leading chip laboratory. Recent initiatives, such as the NanoIC pilot line and the Automotive Chiplet Program – both launched in 2024 – underscore our commitment to driving progress through international partnerships and groundbreaking projects.

If the chip industry continues this path, I am confident that we will be able to transform humanity’s hope – embedded in a grain of sand, the foundation of microchip technology – into tangible progress and solutions for the most pressing challenges of our time.