Emilio Lora-Tamayo (1950-2024). Passion for Microelectronics

It is with regret that the IMB-CNM receives the news, no less sad because it was expected, of the death of Emilio Lora-Tamayo d'Ocón last Friday, March 29th. Emilio had been deputy director for many years and then director (2008-2012) of the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC) until he had to take on other responsibilities outside the Institute. Emilio was one of those resolute and well-trained people who, during the years of democratic transition and rapprochement with Europe, were placed at the crossroads of contributing to the modernization of the country. His was to promote such a complex and facilitating technology as microelectronics, without which today's society would be unrecognizable, and he did so with perseverance and passion.

Emilio graduated in Physics from the Complutense University of Madrid (1972) and continued his training at the CEA-LETI in Grenoble (France), where he began his specialization in microelectronic technology, a field to which he will devote all his research work. Back in Spain, he obtained his PhD in Science, again from the Complutense University of Madrid, and joined the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), as a Scientific Collaborator, attached to the Institute of Communications Electronics (IEC-Torres Quevedo). It is at the IEC, together with Prof. Enrique Domínguez Ferrari, where the Microelectronics Structural Research Unit (UEI) is constituted, a small research group dedicated to microelectronics technology with two parallel lines of development: MOS/CMOS technology and photovoltaic cells. In 1980 the UEI was awarded one of the first projects of the Ramón Areces Foundation for the development of low-cost photovoltaic technology; a project that was carried out in parallel with the development of CMOS processes.

At that time, a project to build a Clean Room at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) was underway and the creation of a National Microelectronics Center (CNM) with different sites was proposed. The location for the development of silicon technology is decided to be the UAB, with the approval of Emilio Lora-Tamayo, who moves with his team. He will have to travel between Barcelona and Madrid often until he finally moves to Sant Cugat with his family.

This is the beginning of the IMB-CNM adventure, its new building and the construction of a European competitive Clean Room, inaugurated in 1991, which allows the development of different microelectronic technologies in silicon (CMOS, power devices, sensors, etc.), developments that continue to this day. It is in those years when Emilio Lora's extraordinary capacity for sacrifice, work and management as Technical Director of the CNM becomes evident.

In 1989 Emilio obtained the Chair of Electronics at the UAB. Beyond his vocation of service, those who closely shared teaching tasks with him could experience his passion for teaching. Emilio enjoyed talking and discussing with the students, getting involved in everything that could be enriching for the teaching of Electronics. Only the positions of vice-president and president of CSIC kept him away from teaching. His two periods as rector of the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP) and the Camilo José Cela University (UCJC) were the culmination of this facet.

With the CNM consolidated and well positioned at international level, Emilio went on to apply his management skills as Vice-President and, subsequently, as President of the CSIC in two different periods. This is the only case in which a father and then his son have been President of the CSIC; and also the only case in which the same person has been appointed President for two non-consecutive periods. The end of his scientific career has been fully dedicated to management from his positions as Rector of the UIMP and the UCJC.

Emilio contributed to the promotion of nanotechnology research in Spain, both as a director and as a researcher. He played a very relevant role in the structuring of nanotechnology activities at the UAB campus, and in the involvement of CSIC in the creation of the Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (currently ICN2). He was committed to attracting talent, facilitating, often against the immediate environment, that young researchers could develop their careers and prove their worth.

During the period between his two presidencies, Emilio returned to research, first spending time at the University of California, Berkeley, where he shared space and experiences with key players in microelectronics and nanotechnology research. For example, Emilio became friends with Jeff Bokor, who was one of the main architects of the development of the FinFETs fabrication technology, the type of transistor currently used in semiconductor chips. Upon rejoining IMB-CNM, he implemented Berkeley concepts and procedures, and promoted projects and activities to integrate nanotechnology with microelectronics. Thanks to him, we were able to establish a technology for the mass fabrication of carbon nanotubes, which helped create the enabling environment so that, for example, the UAB campus has come to be at the forefront of international graphene research.

We should appreciate his ability to promote collaborations, facilitating them not only by his generosity in allowing us to take advantage of his contacts, but also by finding ways to overcome administrative barriers.  As an example, he was actively involved in the organization of the 2006 MNE congress in Barcelona, devised interdisciplinary projects and participated in the creation of international networks, such as the foundation of the NFFA consortium, which still remains today as one of the major European actions in Nanotechnology.

The culmination of a collective effort

The IMB-CNM is what it is thanks to the enthusiastic and collective effort of all the people who have joined a trajectory of almost forty years that has allowed the development in our country of technologies from the minuscule to face major challenges. However, at the time when everything was still to be done, the people involved were necessarily few, and the illusion and passion, which we still share today, were joined by the importance and responsibility of moving forward with something completely new. Emilio was one of those key people who, in the right place, at the right time and with the right skills, contributed to the IMB-CNM seeing the light of day and becoming what it is today.

Emilio has left us a few days after the good news of the IMB-CNM obtaining the María de Maeztu seal of excellence, a joyful culmination of the shared adventure of which he was passionately a part from the very beginning.

RIP