Malaga, Venue for the Next IMEC International Technology Forum

The International Technology Forum (ITF) of IMEC has chosen Málaga, where its future semiconductor center will be located, to host its first edition in Spain. ... This is one of the most important events in the microtechnology sector, as reported by the Minister of Economy, Finance, and European Funds, Carolina España, who detailed that the Andalusian Government will be present at this event through Málaga TechPark.

España participated this Monday in the Board of Directors of the Málaga technopolis, where the various public administrations involved in the park have highlighted their positioning "as a strategic engine of technological innovation and their leadership in managing innovation ecosystems."

"All these projects consolidate the park's role as a European benchmark in innovation, technology, and territorial cooperation, aligned with the major strategic priorities of Andalusia," the minister stated in a press release.

Thus, the Andalusian Minister of Economy highlighted the commitment of the Andalusian Government "to create a favorable ecosystem for businesses and investment, a commitment that has allowed Andalusia to become a technological and innovation hub that increasingly attracts talent and promotes excellence."

In this regard, the board reviewed the key milestones in the areas of international standardization over the last year; advanced microelectronics, with the establishment of Spain's first semiconductor center by IMEC in the capital of the Costa del Sol, and interregional collaboration, with the signing of several agreements with the Balearic Islands or the municipality of Antequera to create synergies between different industrial hubs.

Thus, in addition to ITF Spain, which will be held at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga next October and for the first time will leave Belgium, the Board of Directors has highlighted the progress of the center that IMEC will establish in the province, which will become the country's first semiconductor plant. Regarding this initiative, the cleanroom for the manufacturing of 300 mm wafer chips is already in the design phase, following the contract awarded to the consultancy Drees & Sommer.

In this way, Andalusia "continues to strengthen ties" with IMEC, as evidenced by the participation of Málaga TechPark in "key" events, such as Transfiere 2025 or the 'Horizon Europe: Chips Joint Undertaking' day.

Another of the most significant projects presented has been the direct involvement of Málaga TechPark, along with the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE), in the development of the new ISO 56012 standard on innovation ecosystem management. Thus, the province will host the first face-to-face meeting of the international committee ISO/TC 279, which will be held from July 8 to 11, 2025, and will feature top-level global experts.

This leadership positions, as indicated by the Andalusian Government in a statement, the Málaga technopolis on the same level as Silicon Valley or Haier as a global reference model in organizational and territorial innovation.

The council also emphasized the strategic value of the new enclaves and interregional alliances, with special attention to the agreement signed with ParcBit (Mallorca), which establishes a framework for collaboration to jointly promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and business internationalization, and the agreement that inaugurates the PTA-Antequera City Council enclave, with the aim of promoting innovation and industrial development in the interior of the province of Málaga.

They highlighted that the meeting also served to value other outstanding activities of the ecosystem, such as the activity of the UMA innTech office, the promotion of female talent in the technological field through the Women Leadership group, and advances in public and private investment, employment, attraction of startups, and participation in international networks.