María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence

The IMB-CNM is proud to have been distinguished in 2024 with the Maria de Maeztu label as a Unit of Excellence. This award is one of the highest recognitions in Spain attending scientific outcomes and research leadership. 

The aim of the associated Research Plan (RP) is to assure the development of new disruptive devices, components and systems and explore their contribution to three main social areas, which are the applicative axes of the institute:

• Health and Environment
• Energy and Mobility
• Physics Frontiers and Civil Security

The Plan is designed to consolidate and reinforce the IMB-CNM's flagship position in fundamental and applied research for micro-nanoelectronics, both in Spain and Europe.

In addition to generate new knowledge at the forefront of the evolution of micro and nano-based digital technologies and contribute to a sustainable economic and social development, we also aim to train the new generations of researchers and engineers, attracting talent to the exciting era of the Twin Green and Digital transition, and to a vibrant environment, which is now at a crossroad in Europe in its reaction to the semiconductor crisis.

Our strategic plan is aligned with the European and Spanish chip strategy to strengthen leadership in the chip ecosystem. Specifically, it is focused on reinforcing the scientific capacity in the areas identified in the European Chips Act and PERTE Chip, such as integrated photonics and quantum semiconductor chips, and in other areas of high interest such as energy harvesting, wide-bandgap materials, and power management, as well as the development of next-generation technologies and pilot lines for the prototyping, testing and experimentation.

The objectives and related actions are:

• Keeping up the race of being one of the micro-nanoelectronics flagships of Europe.
• Exploiting the transversal Technological Unit.
• Leap forward in assisting the researchers to obtain resources.
• Leap forward in attracting and enrolling new talent.
• Becoming a recognised training vector in the micro-nanoelectronics field.
• Becoming a micro-nanoelectronics lighthouse: gain social and economic visibility.

The three axes are supported by a transversal unit of technological nature that vertebrates the work of the groups, the Clean Room, and their mutual interaction. This Unit nurtures the technological means and associated expertise to ensure the fabrication and integration of micro-nanoelectronic and photonic devices and systems. Its activity revolves around technology development, technological vigilance, technology training and internal strategic analysis.

The applicative axes and the technological unit are non-normative structures within CSIC organization, but innovative at internal organization level. In the proposed scheme, a researcher is allowed to join as many of them as they see fit. In this way, researchers cluster in more permeable research areas, boosting interaction and improving excellence.

The four areas of operation considered are as follows:

• Tech Unit (or Axis 0): Technologies and advanced processes for micro-nano (physical-digital) systems
• Axis 1: Micro & nano (physical-digital) systems for Health and Environment
• Axis 2: Micro & nano (physical-digital) systems for Energy and Mobility
• Axis 3: Micro & nano (physical-digital) systems for Physics Frontiers and Civil Security

"Unidades de Excelencia Maria de Maeztu" CEX2023-001397-M, financed by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033