IMB-CNM in the Chips Joint Undertaking
IMB-CNM is the leading Spanish institutions contributing to the Chips JU initiatives, including three pilot lines, two national competence centers, and the European Design Platform
European Pilot Lines
PIXEurope
PIXEurope is a Pilot Line initiative launched by the European Commission to accelerate the development of photonic chip technology—an essential component in the future of high-speed computing, communications, and quantum information systems, among others. The pilot line aims to work on the design and establish an optimized prototyping chain (that includes design, fabrication, integration, testing and reliability) in search of accelerating product development and scalable manufacturability.
IMB-CNM acts as the technological core leading the group that will incorporate new advanced equipment for the fabrication and characterization of silicon nitride photonic chips, one of the monolithic integration technologies that will be worked with in the pilot line. The other technologies for PIC fabrication will be based on indium phosphide, silicon, silicon germanium, silicon carbide and alumina.
APECS
APECS leads the way in advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration by providing diverse technologies on a single platform.
The pilot line for “Advanced Packaging and Heterogeneous Integration for Electronic Components and Systems” is a major leap forward in strengthening Europe's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and chiplet innovation as part of the European Chips Act. The IMB-CNM is the only Spanish institution within the consortium, adding its expertise in design, fabrication and packaging, as well as the capabilities of its Micro and Nanofabrication Clean Room.
SPINS
A gap remains between current quantum research and manufacturable quantum processors to enable significant quantum applications. Scaling the number of stable qubits (to as much as one billion) is key to building reliable and fault-tolerant quantum computers. The EU Chips Act has established six complementary quantum pilot lines, each focused on a distinct hardware platform and collectively advancing quantum technologies in the space of quantum computing, communications and sensing. Within this portfolio, SPINS is the pilot line dedicated to semiconductor‑based spin qubits, with a primary focus on delivering quantum chips for quantum‑computing applications.
IMB-CNM participates in process development and module optimization. The objective is to gather and unify the required development of key process steps and modules that are currently not available and need to be developed to meet the requirements of a stable semiconductor pilot line adapted to the needs of the quantum industry. It contributes Clean Room capabilities to implement improvements in the gate stack module.
Chips Competence Centers
PIXSpain
PIXSpain is the national entry point for SMEs, startups, researchers, and industry seeking access to advanced design platforms, European pilot lines, specialized training, and technical support to develop Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC)–based solutions.
MicroNanoSpain
MicroNanoSpain (MNS) is the national Competence Centre for microelectronics and semiconductors, aligned with the European Chips Act. It acts as a single point of access for the Spanish ecosystem — companies, start-ups, SMEs, R&D centres and universities — facilitating access to advanced technological capabilities, specialised training and support services for innovation in micro- and nanoelectronics, in direct connection with the European network of Competence Centres.
European Chips Design Platform
EuroCDP is designed to support startups, SMEs, research teams, and other fabless innovators with streamlined access to everything needed to design and launch microchips: design tools, IP, expert support, prototyping, fabrication, packaging, testing, training, funding, and dedicated startup programs. It acts as a one-stop platform for chip design, helping users move faster from concept to functioning chips. Whether you’re exploring a proof-of-concept or preparing for market launch, the platform connects you with the right resources at every stage of the journey.
The platform serves organizations based in EU Member States and participating countries of the Chips Joint Undertaking. The consortium comprises 12 European partners, coordinated by imec. In Spain, it is led by two of the CSIC's National Microelectronics Center (CNM) institutes: the Institute of Microelectronics of Seville (IMSE-CNM) and the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM).
The main objective of this system is to facilitate access to advanced infrastructure for semiconductor design, as well as to provide training and advice to startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and research organizations. This is a major step forward in the democratization and promotion of semiconductor innovation at the European level, a key aspect to achieve significant progress towards the so-called digital sovereignty.
About Chips JU
Empowering Europe's Semiconductor Future by uniting innovation and driving progress. In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the European semiconductor ecosystem stands as a crucial pillar of progress. At the heart of this dynamic field lies the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU), a pioneering initiative committed to catalysing research, development, and manufacturing capabilities across Europe. Focused on research, innovation, and manufacturing, Chips JU seeks to position Europe as a leader in semiconductor technology, enhance digital capacity, and address global challenges such as sustainability. The initiative aligns with European policy goals to ensure the continent's technological and industrial leadership.
