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IMEC has expanded its nanoelectronics research labs by 2,800m2 including an expanded clean room in Leuven, Belgium.  The expansion includes a 1,200m2 ultra-clean processing area as an extension of the current 300mm clean room.  IMEC will be able to further research on 22nm CMOS in addition to future low-cost and high-efficiency solar cells, and on biomedical electronics.  The Flemish Government invests €35 million and IMEC will cover the remaining €35 million through a loan.

The expansion is also expected to allow 300 additional jobs for researchers and lab assistants in engineering and chemistry.  The company currently employs 1650 people.  While the entire project cost the company roughly €70 million, it plans to build a new office building in late 2009

“IMEC today is addressing the major challenges of our planet: environment, energy and the ageing population. Concrete programs in areas such as solar energy, smart-grid, energy scavenging and in several biomedical and medical applications address those challenges,” said CEO of IMEC Gilbert Declerck (pictured), “We are proud that we can further expand IMEC’s activities so that we continue to offer valuable R&D programs to the industry that will contribute to Flanders, Europe and the world of tomorrow.”