QF’s Qatar Science & Technology Park welcomes imec’s Regional Research Hub

Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), is pleased to welcome imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in advanced semiconductor technologies, as newest member of its community. The milestone marks a defining step in building Qatar’s semiconductor ecosystem and strengthens the country’s position as a regional hub for advanced technology development.

This news follows the announcement at Mobile World Congress Doha 2025, where imec revealed plans to establish a regional presence in Qatar and signed a formal agreement with Invest Qatar and the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council, in the presence of government officials and technology industry leaders.

Imec’s expansion into Qatar represents a significant milestone in its international growth and reflects the strength of Qatar’s innovation ecosystem. Through its partnership with QSTP, imec will leverage QF’s research, education, and innovation network to advance R&D into advanced compute and chip design, supporting the development of a robust regional semiconductor landscape.

Rama Chakaki, President, QSTP, commented, “We are proud to welcome imec to Qatar Science & Technology Park. This partnership brings world-class semiconductor research and innovation to the region and reinforces our mission to position Qatar as a leading hub for technology, talent development, and collaboration.”

Max Mirgoli, Chief Global Development, Partnerships and Venturing Officer and Executive Vice President at imec, said: “Imec Qatar is being built as a platform for shared innovation. Through close collaboration with QSTP and the QF ecosystem, we are creating an environment where talent development, academic‑industry partnerships, and regional collaboration come together. Our goal is to contribute meaningfully to the Gulf’s emerging high‑tech landscape by connecting local ambition with global expertise.”

At QSTP, imec’s regional hub will focus on advanced compute architectures, AI-enabled chip design, and emerging semiconductor technologies, including silicon photonics, 3D integrated circuits, and advanced packaging solutions. Researchers will explore next-generation design workflows and the application of generative and agent-based AI to accelerate semiconductor innovation. These efforts will support the development of more efficient digital and energy infrastructure aligned with regional sustainability priorities.

Embedded within QSTP’s innovation ecosystem of nearly 400 research, technology, and innovation entities, the imec hub will foster collaboration with industry, academia and startups by co-locating advanced research capabilities to accelerate technology adoption, enable applied research, and support the commercialization of breakthrough semiconductor solutions.

Talent development will be a core pillar of imec’s presence at QSTP. In collaboration with universities, research institutions, startups, and industry partners across QF’s ecosystem, the hub will offer internships, PhD programs, and postdoctoral opportunities. These initiatives aim to strengthen the regional semiconductor talent pipeline and create pathways for knowledge transfer between global research and local innovation.