The IMB-CNM celebrates its 40th anniversary as a leader in microelectronics and announces the expansion of its Clean Room

The CSIC's Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC) commemorated four decades of history with an institutional ceremony at its headquarters. The event, held yesterday, was attended by Núria Montserrat, Minister of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and Eloísa del Pino, President of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), along with representatives from two ministries and local administrations.

The event also included speeches by Luis Fonseca, director of the institute, and Conchi Martínez, councilor for Innovation at Cerdanyola City Council. Researcher and science communicator Elisabet Prats, from CIBER-BBN at IMB-CNM, acted as master of ceremonies.

“It's 40 years of shared history, of commitment to the country and society,” said Núria Montserrat in her speech, listing the successes in transfer, the commitment to training, and the creation of a community around the institute.

The president of the CSIC, for her part, recalled and expressed her gratitude for the visionary capacity of the founders of the IMB-CNM, and mentioned some of the measures currently being taken to strengthen research in this area and achieve technological sovereignty.

Luis Fonseca celebrated the anniversary with a forward-looking speech: “We don't want to be the country where ‘they invent’ or ‘they manufacture’; we want to do our bit for technological innovation and excellence.” During the event, emphasis was placed on the center's cutting-edge work and its ability to break new ground in a field that was unknown in Spain. This work has recently been accredited as a María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence, a seal awarded by the State Research Agency.

Among those attending were Ángela Fernández Curto, Deputy Assistant Director General of ICTS at the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities; Jaime Martorell, Vice President of the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation at the Ministry of Digital Transformation; Oriol Recasens, Head of the Research Department of Barcelona City Council; Luis Calvo, Institutional Delegate of the CSIC in Catalonia; and Joan Majó, Minister of Industry and Energy in the Government in 1985. Representing the IMB-CNM were former director Francesc Serra i Mestres, as well as the center's former directors, Carles Cané, Manuel Lozano, and Joan Bausells; and the current Direction team, with deputy director Neus Sabaté, the Head of the Clean Room David Quirion and manager Mari Carmen Porto. At the end of the event, the authorities present took a tour of the Micro and Nanofabrication Clean Room.

A key moment for technology

The anniversary coincides with the announcement of the expansion of the Micro and Nanofabrication Clean Room, made public today by the Government of Catalonia thanks to a grant from the Projectes Singulars Institucionals (CHIPXXI-PLUS) program.

This expansion is possible thanks to co-financing from the Department of Research and Universities and European ERDF funds, which strengthen the country's capacity to promote high-impact scientific infrastructure. It represents a step forward in the future of micro and nanotechnologies in Spain, with more than two million euros of co-financing to increase the usable area and promote greater interaction with companies. The IMB-CNM-CSIC Clean Room, currently covering 1,500 square meters, is considered a Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS) within the Micronanofabs network.

Forty years ago, the National Microelectronics Center (CNM), belonging to the CSIC, was inaugurated in Cerdanyola, dedicated to the design and manufacture of integrated circuits or chips. Today, as IMB-CNM, it celebrates its anniversary at a key moment, marked by the PERTE Chip funding rounds and the new European pilot lines, in which the IMB-CNM is participating in two to promote Spanish and European digital sovereignty.

Participation in the two approved competence centers in Spain and the announcement of the expansion reinforce the IMB-CNM's capacity to contribute significantly to the semiconductor ecosystem in terms of knowledge generation, talent training, and technological support for deep-tech start-ups in the fields of microelectronics, integrated photonics, and quantum technologies.

• The Minister for Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, in the center, alongside the President of the CSIC, Eloísa del Pino, Director Luis Fonseca, and Deputy Director Neus Sabaté. Also, from left to right, the Manager of the IMB-CNM, Mari Carmen Porto, the Councilor for the City Council of Cerdanyola, Conchi Martínez, Jaime Martorell, Luis Calvo, and David Quirion.
• Minister Núria Montserrat at the event.
• Councilor Conchi Martínez at the event.
• Director Luis Fonseca at the event.
• CSIC President Eloísa del Pino at the event.
• Elisabet Prats presenting the 40th anniversary event.
• Joan Majó and Francesc Serra at the event.
• David Quirion gives a guided tour inside the Clean Room.