- The Minister of Economy highlights Málaga TechPark’s growing global leadership and expanded international cooperation
IMEC’s International Technology Forum (ITF), one of the world’s leading events in the microtechnology sector, has chosen Málaga as the host city for its first edition in Spain. The announcement was made by Carolina España, Andalusia’s Minister of Economy, Finance, and European Funds, who also confirmed that the Andalusian Government will participate in the event through Málaga TechPark.
The Minister participated this Monday in the Board of Directors of the Málaga technopolis, where participating public administrations in the park highlighted its positioning as a strategic engine of technological innovation and its leadership in the innovation ecosystems. “All these projects consolidate the park’s role as a European
reference in innovation, technology, and territorial cooperation, aligned with Andalusia’s major strategic priorities.”
España emphasized the Andalusian Government’s commitment “to creating an ecosystem favorable to companies and investment, a commitment that has allowed Andalusia to become a technological and innovation hub that increasingly attracts talent and promotes excellence.”
In this regard, the board reviewed key milestones in international standardization over the past year; advanced microelectronics, with the implementation of Spain’s first semiconductor center in Málaga, led by IMEC, and the interregional collaboration, with the signing of several agreements with the Balearic Islands or the municipality of Antequera to create synergies between different industrial poles.
In addition to ITF Spain, which will be held at the Málaga Trade Fairs and Congress Center next October, the Board of Directors highlighted advances in the IMEC semiconductor center project. The cleanroom facility for 300mm wafer chip production is already in the design phase, with German consultancy firm Drees&Sommer awarded the contract.
This initiative reinforces Andalusia’s deepening collaboration with IMEC, also reflected in Málaga TechPark’s participation in key events such as Transfiere 2025 and Horizon Europe: Chips Joint Undertaking.
Another major project presented was Málaga TechPark’s involvement, together with the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE), in the development of the new ISO 56012 standard on innovation ecosystem management. Málaga will host the first in-person meeting of the ISO/TC 279 international committee from July 8-11, 2025, welcoming global experts. This positions Málaga TechPark as a global benchmark in organizational and territorial innovation, alongside models like Silicon Valley and Haier.
The board also emphasized the strategic value of newly created innovation enclaves and interregional alliances, particularly the cooperation agreement signed with ParcBit (Mallorca), which aims to jointly promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and internationalization; and the new PTA-Ayuntamiento de Antequera alliance, created to drive innovation and industrial development in inland Málaga province.
The meeting also highlighted other key ecosystem initiatives, including the work of the UMA innTech office, efforts to promote female talent in tech through the Women Leadership group, and progress in attracting public-private investment, startups, international partnerships, and high-quality employment opportunities.