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The new CEO, Patrick Vandenameele, oversees the project’s progress on site alongside the Regional Government of Andalusia and the management of Málaga TechPark
Málaga TechPark has hosted an official visit from the senior management of the International Microelectronics Research Institute (imec), led by its new CEO, Patrick Vandenameele. The visiting delegation toured around the site to assess first-hand the progress of the work involved in establishing its new R&D centre specialising in semiconductors – a milestone that places the Málaga site at the forefront of industrial and technological innovation in Europe.
Amelia Martínez, Deputy Minister for the Economy, Finance and European Funds, and Francisco Fernández Monge, Secretary-General for European Funds at the Regional Government of Andalusia, alongside the management team of Málaga TechPark, attended the working meeting. Throughout the day, the team inspected the two key sites where the company’s establishment is centred. On the one hand, the plots earmarked to house the research centre’s permanent headquarters; on the other, the temporary facilities, which have now been fully fitted out to accommodate the operational staff and begin scientific and management tasks whilst construction is underway.
This high-level meeting takes place at a strategic turning point for the technology ecosystem, as it forms part of the side events linked to the park’s participation in the 52nd European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC 2026) and the Optica Global Photonic Forum. IMEC’s establishment fully supports Málaga TechPark’s roadmap of priorities, which focuses its efforts on attracting investment and recruiting highly qualified professionals in four key scientific sectors: microelectronics, photonics, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies.
This major infrastructure project, in which the Spanish Government has invested 500 million euros through the SETT, and which has also received investment from the Regional Government of Andalusia and Málaga City Council, bringing the total to over 600 million, is key to the national and European semiconductor strategy, which forms part of the Government’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, within the framework of the PERTE Chip programme and the European Next Generation funds.
This facility will house 60 advanced processing machines to enable research and prototyping of microchips, representing a total investment of 267 million euros, financed by #FEDER funds. Of this total, 150 million comes specifically from #STEP funds managed by SETT under the 2021–2027 FEDER Multi-regional Programme for Spain, whilst the remaining amount corresponds to investment by the Regional Government of Andalusia through the 2021–2027 FEDER Programme for Andalusia, managed by the Andalusian administration. #EuropaSeSiente
With the arrival of this internationally renowned centre, Málaga TechPark’s model is established as a multicultural hub for knowledge transfer, capable of demonstrating leadership in ground-breaking technologies. The combination of pioneering infrastructure, strong public-private partnerships and a comprehensive approach to professional development and quality of life positions the technology park as the location of choice for the leading global players in the deep tech industry.
Málaga TechPark is currently housing more than 700 companies and institutions, generating an annual income of over 4.8 billion euros and employing more than 29,000 professionals. By accelerating the imec project, the park is reaffirming its ability to attract major strategic investments and become the engine that shapes the future of European microelectronics.