Technology for security and resilience
Semiconductors drive the future of aerospace and security innovation – with imec as the innovation engine for mission‑critical technologies.
In an increasingly connected and unpredictable world, the need for secure, resilient systems has never been more urgent. Investing in technologies that can withstand disruption, adapt to emerging threats, and safeguard everyday life becomes essential for protecting our future.
Imec offers a sovereign, high-tech breeding ground for developing trusted systems that are robust and intelligent, based on advances in:
- sensing & detection
- communication
- health monitoring
- cybersecurity
- energy generation & storage
- human-machine interface
- autonomous systems
Imec’s R&D expertise can be applied to many domains. Examples include:
- stable communication systems for emergency response
- smart sensor networks for monitoring the operational environment
- health and safety monitoring for critical personnel
- intelligent infrastructure that can detect and respond to threats
Next to its world leading expertise in semiconductor and digital technologies, imec also offers manufacturing capabilities via IC-Link. This includes end-to-end ASIC development services and silicon photonics IC prototyping and manufacturing.
Let’s dive deeper into imec’s four key R&D focus areas:
Reliable autonomy for drones and unmanned vehicles
Autonomous systems must operate with absolute reliability – even when GNSS and external communications are severed. For compact autonomous platforms, achieving this resilience is challenging due to strict constraints on size, weight, and power.
Imec overcomes these limitations by delivering compact, energy-efficient solutions that empower platforms to navigate and decide independently. By converging our leadership in power & RF GaN, Si/SiN/AlO/Ge integrated photonics, chiplet, 3D, neuromorphic, quantum sensing, communication and compute programs to support:
- miniaturized classical and quantum IMUs (inertial measurement unit)
- hyperspectral and polarimetric image sensors with UV, visible and IR reach
- chip-scale radar, lidar and sodar
- chip-scale opto-atomic clocks
- sensor fusion
- low-power edge AI compute
Radar-on-chip in advanced CMOS technology.
Sensing and communication for resilient operations
In contested electronic environments, RF signals can be jammed or intercepted, compromising both communication and situational awareness. Imec addresses this challenge with integrated platforms that combine RF and optical modalities for simultaneous sensing and data transmission.
These dual-mode systems offer redundancy and resilience while meeting strict constraints on energy, size, weight, and cost. Imec has developed an RF and optical platform for sensing and communication, with the following capabilities:
- sub-THz convergence for high-data-rate communication and high-resolution sensing
- photonics-enhanced RF for ultra-wideband, high-resolution RF systems
- all-optical networks, based on optical wireless communication (OWC) and lidar
- flat optics to enable compact beamforming systems
Wafer with nano-antenna array for optical beamforming.
Cybersecurity, ensuring safe communication and data protection
Modern transportation systems – from autonomous and connected land vehicles to aircraft communication networks – face increasing cybersecurity risks, ranging from intercepted communication channels to physical access by unauthorized parties.
Imec develops secure, spectrum-efficient technologies that protect sensitive data and ensure mission integrity, even under active interference or loss scenarios.
Imec is advancing secure network technologies through:
- dynamic 5G features
- intelligent radio resource management (RRM)
- wireless foundation model for real-time characterization of the environment
- PHY-layer security for RF communication and sensing
Imec provides trusted building blocks for payload protection, including cloud-to-edge encrypted payload delivery, integration of confidential computing zones, and compute module device attestation to ensure hardware integrity before accepting updates or mission-critical tasks.
Distributed sensing for early-threat detection
Imec is advancing distributed sensing technologies to enhance threat detection accuracy, resilience, and response speed across autonomous systems and networks. By combining diverse sensing capabilities into a unified platform, imec enables faster, smarter identification of threats – before they escalate. These sensing capabilities include:
- computational imaging
- extended-wavelength infrared imaging
- quantum and solid-state magnetic sensing
- advanced chemical spectroscopy
- AI sensor fusion chiplets
Spectral camera and sensor for extended vision, revealing details and materials invisible to conventional cameras.
Work with us
Whether you're developing trusted autonomous systems, secure communication platforms, or mission-critical sensing technologies, imec supports your journey from concept to production. Our engagement models span early-stage exploration, technology validation, and scalable production via IC-Link, imec’s manufacturing division.
With imec, you gain a trusted partner in building secure, robust technologies for the most demanding environments.
Want to partner with us? Click the button below to set up a meeting.
