Imec sets up Florida branch
Imec, the Belgian research centre, has announced the opening of Imec Florida, a new entity focusing on photonics and high-speed electronics IC design based in Osceola, Florida.
Imec Florida kicked off with the signing of a collaboration agreement with the University of Central Florida (UCF), Osceola County and the International Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research (ICAMR), that is setting up fab facilities for the development and production of innovative III-V-on-silicon solutions for a broad range of applications including sensors, high-speed electronics and photonics.
Imec Florida will be established as a design centre facilitating the collaboration between Imec's headquarters, based in Leuven, Belgium, and US-based semiconductor and system companies, universities, and research institutes.
Imec Florida's initial focus will be the R&D of high speed electronics and photonics solutions, starting with an offering of IC design research for a broad set of semiconductor-based solutions such as THz and LIDAR sensors, imagers, and a broad range of sensors. It will also provide IC design needs that will be driving the ICAMR manufacturing research.
Through Imec Florida, Imec's design, prototyping and low-volume production service - also named Imec IC-link - will provide the US market low-cost access to advanced foundry services, helping entrepreneurs to (industry and academia) design innovative products and get them to market.
Funding for Imec Florida will come from Osceola County, and the University of Central Florida.
The aim is for the new centre to attract top talent through future strategic partnerships, with the aim to employ about ten scientists and engineers by the end of the year and increase to 100 researchers in the next five years.
Heading up the facility as general manager will be Imec's VP Bert Gyselinckx who previously served as general manager at Imec in Eindhoven, the Netherlands and helped to co-invent many technologies deployed by innovative semiconductor and consumer electronics companies.
"As the US semiconductor market continues to strengthen with semiconductor manufacturing, equipment, materials and system innovation, we are extremely pleased to collaborate with partner organisations in Florida and see Osceola County in the Orlando region as an interesting location to drive the next phase of Imec's growth and innovation," stated Luc Van den hove, president and CEO of Imec.
"Together with industrial and academic partners, we want to develop sustainable solutions and technology to accelerate innovation and stimulate economic growth within Osceola County and the State of Florida."
"Imec's international prestige gives us the opportunity to leverage its standing in a field that is growing exponentially in order to recruit more partners and funding for our work at the new Design Centre and the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre," said Osceola County Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer.
"The relationships and people that Imec brings to our operation are tangible ways that Osceola County's 5-year, $15 million investment will be more than re-paid. It's important to realise that the new Design Centre is going to capture the attention of everyone in this field, thereby ensuring maximum utilisation and value of the FAMRC."
"The Imec Design Center is the funnel that will fill ICAMR with high-value manufacturing opportunities and we will work closely with them to make sure our capabilities tightly align with their technology direction, said ICAMR CEO Chester Kennedy. "This partnership is poised to shine the global high-tech spotlight on Central Florida."
