Imec’s Michigan center

Microelectronics play a significant and expanding role in modern automobiles. It’s no surprise that Michigan, a hotspot of the global automotive industry, is also home to a thriving ecosystem for semiconductor manufacturing and R&D.

In Michigan, the semiconductor industry has access to:

• automotive customers, with the greatest concentration of automotive OEMs and their suppliers in the US
• R&D investments and capabilities, with support from the state of Michigan, and with the University of Michigan as a top global institute for semiconductor learning 
• talent, with a workforce that ranks among the nation’s top ten and workforce development partners such as the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Washtenaw Community College (WCC)
   

To further boost semiconductor research and support its transition towards industrial applications, imec has established a physical presence in the Great Lakes State. Through its office on the Ann Arbor campus, imec Michigan works closely with the University of Michigan and local industry on joint research and talent development.

Advanced research into automotive semiconductors

Once the birthplace of the modern automobile industry, Michigan is now geared to play a crucial role in its greatest transformation.

The electrification and digitization of cars require s a semiconductor revolution in automotive, with direct participation of manufacturers in the development of highly innovative chip technologies.

Driving this advancement of automotive semiconductor research and talent development is a prime objective of mstar, established by imec, KLA, the University of Michigan, Washtenaw Community College, GM, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Under the mstar umbrella, imec's Michigan center works closely with Michigan-based automotive companies, the University of Michigan, and researchers at imec's Belgium-based headquarters to advance the development of automotive chiplets.

These modular chips, which can be flexibly combined into larger systems, are key to fulfilling the high-performance computing needs of future vehicles, while optimizing const and power consumption. To meet the high quality and reliability (QnR) standards required by the automotive industry, innovation is essential, spanning everything from materials to architecture.

Watch this video report of the Automotive Chiplet Forum held at Ann Arbor in October 2024.

Find out more about imec’s automotive chiplet research program

Novel materials for electronics

The success of the semiconductor industry is built on silicon. It hasn’t exhausted its potential for innovation. It’s backed by tremendous investments in equipment, infrastructure, and expertise. And it will no doubt remain the preferred material for the near future. Nevertheless, as we approach silicon’s physical limits, it’s increasingly worth looking into alternative materials to keep up with Moore’s law.

In collaboration with the University of Michigan, imec’s Michigan center explores atomic layer deposition as a critical technology for advancing beyond silicon, enabling the precise and versatile deposition of new materials that can enhance the performance and capabilities of future electronic devices.

In addition, we investigate magnetic materials and their crucial role in the development of next-generation memory applications.

Are you interested in joining our research team or partnering with us? Click the button below to get in touch.