IU lands partnership with international semiconductor powerhouse imec

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University has entered a new partnership with imec, a global research and development center for advanced semiconductor technologies. The partnership will strengthen Indiana's position in the rapidly growing global semiconductor industry and create new opportunities for cutting-edge research, talent development and industry collaboration.

The agreement will connect IU researchers with one of the world's most influential semiconductor research organizations, whose partners include many of the leading companies shaping the future of microelectronics, computing and artificial intelligence. It was facilitated through IU Inc., which serves as a front door connecting IU’s researchers, students and expertise with industry partners and startups to generate new revenue opportunities, enable dynamic partnerships and accelerate commercialization.

“Partnering with an organization of imec's stature creates tremendous opportunities for collaborative research and commercialization,” said David Rosenberg, president and CEO of IU LAB and IU Inc. “Just as importantly, it strengthens Indiana's growing innovation ecosystem by connecting IU faculty and students to one of the world's premier semiconductor research organizations. Together, we will advance technologies that are increasingly important to economic competitiveness, national security and scientific discovery.”

Through the partnership, imec and IU will pursue collaborative projects, beginning with research led by IU CREATE, Indiana University's Center for Reliable and Trusted Electronics.

In an initial collaborative project, imec will contribute advanced electronic and photonic components for evaluation, while IU CREATE researchers will conduct radiation testing and analysis of the components to better understand how the underlying technologies perform in extreme environments, including those encountered in space. Findings will be shared between the organizations and support future collaborative research proposals and publications.

“This partnership brings together imec’s expertise in semiconductor innovation and IU’s strengths in trusted electronics research,” said Max Mirgoli, executive vice president and chief global development, partnerships and venturing officer at imec. “We look forward to exploring new areas of collaboration that advance scientific discovery and help address challenges facing next-generation technologies.”

What they’re saying: 

Russell J. Mumper, IU vice president for research: “Indiana University is committed to aligning our research strengths with the needs of our state and nation, particularly in critical areas like microelectronics. This partnership with imec will combine IU’s growing expertise in reliable and trusted electronics with the capabilities of one of the world’s leading semiconductor research organizations, creating new opportunities for our faculty and students while strengthening Indiana’s innovation ecosystem and economic competitiveness.”

Daniel Loveless, executive director of IU CREATE: “Indiana University has built significant expertise in trusted electronics and radiation effects research through IU CREATE. Working with imec allows us to apply that expertise to some of the most advanced technologies being developed today while laying the foundation for future partnerships, research opportunities and economic impact.”

Adrian Ildefonso, assistant professor of intelligent systems engineering in the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering: “As the principal investigator of one of the core labs within IU CREATE, I am excited by the opportunities this partnership will give our students to test and evaluate state-of-the-art semiconductor devices. That kind of high-impact experiential learning is central to IU’s educational mission and to workforce development in microelectronics, as it prepares engineers who understand reliability in practice and are ready to work in a global industry.”