imec president repeats call for Euro 450mm pilot line
Despite what it terms a challenging economic climate, imec saw its 2011 revenues grow by 5% to €300million.
"I'm looking back to a challenging but positive year," said Luc Van den hove, pictured, imec's president and ceo. "Our growing global partner network is a confirmation of the relevance of imec's R&D offering to the industry. Given the growing complexity of the challenges that need to be tackled, open innovation will become ever more important as it allows efficient cost sharing and risk mitigation, and accelerates research."
The Belgian research institute recorded more than 1750 publications, 41 prizes awarded to imec researchers and 132 patents granted. It also made 133 patent applications.
Van den hove noted that European collaboration is becoming increasingly important. "We have many strengths, including world leading R&D institutes, world leading equipment and material suppliers and many high end system companies. By joining forces, Europe can change into an innovation engine, offering the world innovative, advanced technology.
"Therefore, I believe that Europe should join forces to set up a 450mm R&D pilot line. This 450mm facility will support the entire European ecosystem – including equipment and material suppliers, fabless and system houses – and will enable Europe to keep on delivering the most advanced material, technology and device research to the world."
