Catalan government officially approves InnoFAB

This strategic initiative aims to create a state-of-the-art research and development centre dedicated to advanced semiconductor technologies, positioning Catalonia and Spain at the forefront of global semiconductor innovation. ICN2 is one of the key players in this project, contributing its cutting-edge expertise in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Promoted by the Ministry of Economy and Finances and by the Department of Research and Universities, the Catalan Government has recently approved the InnoFAB project. The aim of this initiative is to create a next-generation research and development centre dedicated to advanced semiconductor technologies. Located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona), near the ALBA Synchrotron, the facility will provide an ideal environment for innovation, accessible to both industry and research institutions.

With a total budget nearing 400 million euros, the InnoFAB project is a strategic collaboration between the Catalan and Spanish governments, aimed at strengthening the European position in the semiconductor sector and fostering technological advancement.

ICN2 is one of the main players in this project, represented by its vice-director, ICREA Prof. Jose A. Garrido. On the occasion of this announcement, Prof. Garrido answered several questions about the upcoming progress of the project:

InnoFAB will involve several key pillars from both the institutional and the research world. What is ICN2's role in this initiative?

“ICN2 has played a central role in the core consortium since the beginning of the initiative, working alongside leading institutions such as the ALBA Synchrotron, the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM, CSIC), the UAB, ICFO and the investment agency Barcelona & Partners.

As a strategic technology partner, ICN2 brings in-depth expertise in early-stage research and innovation, especially at lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). This makes the institute a key driver in shaping the long-term collaboration with InnoFAB. Such partnership aims to build a strong pipeline of cutting-edge research and technology projects, ensuring InnoFAB’s continued technological advancement.”

InnoFAB will collaborate with start-upd, companies and research groups, offering access to a state-of-the-art clean room for prototyping and testing. Would you say this is an important step in bridging the gap between research and large-scale commercialisation of technology?

“Absolutely! InnoFAB plays a key role in bridging the gap between research and large-scale commercialisation, particularly in the semiconductor sector. By fostering collaboration between academic and industrial partners, InnoFab will identify and develop the semiconductor technologies that will drive the next generation of micro- and nanoelectronics.

In other words, InnoFAB will act as a true catalyst for innovation - creating a dynamic environment where high-tech start-ups and established companies can work side by side. By bringing together entrepreneurs and researchers from leading institutions, it will help accelerate the development and scaling of breakthrough ideas. This kind of collaboration between universities, research centres and industry is, more than ever, essential to turn scientific breakthroughs into real-world technologies and drive progress at scale.”

In today's unstable geopolitical landscape, do projects like InnoFAB become even more relevant by aligning with the strategy of strengthening Europe's technological sovereignty?

“Certainly! It is no secret that, nowadays, semiconductor devices are strategic assets for all industries, with a profound economic impact. As global demand for chips continues to rise, semiconductors are at the centre of a worldwide technological race and subject to strong geostrategic interests.

To address this issue, the European Commission outlined a bold vision for the future of Europe's semiconductor industry through the EU Chips Act. This initiative focuses on key actions such as investing in next-generation technologies, creating pilot lines for advanced chip prototyping, supporting innovative start-ups or fostering talent and innovation in microelectronics.

InnoFAB is fully aligned with the EU Chips Act, aiming to address the challenges faced in the current context. In the midterm, InnoFAB will contribute to strengthening Europe's technological sovereignty by fostering innovation, enabling collaboration and supporting the development of advanced semiconductor technologies.”

Is the aim to position Catalonia and Spain at the forefront of next-generation semiconductor and chip technologies in Europe?

“Yes, it is. Our ecosystem hosts leading academic and research institutions in semiconductors and microelectronics, as well as a vibrant group of emerging high-tech start-ups, so we have a strong foundation from which to build. However, we lack the high-volume manufacturing capacity required for industrial-scale production. In this sense, many of European start-ups face a common challenge: the lack of clean room facilities that meet industry standards for scaling advanced semiconductor technologies. This creates a significant Lab-to-Fab gap that InnoFAB aims to address.”

Which sectors are expected to benefit most from the new technologies developed in this project?

“InnoFAB will focus on transformational materials, processes and devices that bring new capabilities or enhanced functionality to current silicon-based technologies. Key application areas include quantum computing, sensing and communication, neuro-inspired computing, in-memory computing, analogue electronics for human-machine interfaces and advanced photonics.

Many of these areas are still in the R&D or early deployment phase. In areas such as advanced photonics, for example, new materials and technologies - such as embedded non-volatile memories or 2D materials - are starting to gain traction.

Is InnoFAB also an opportunity to strengthen the training of professionals in this field? And an opportunity to attract international talent?

“Without any doubt, this will be the case. Actually, access to talent and an educated workforce is often cited as the most important issue faced by all players in the semiconductor value chain. InnoFAB will provide researchers and students with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, as well as the hands-on, experiential training needed to expand the domestic microelectronics workforce and knowledge base.”

Following the recent announcement by the Catalan government, when is the new production facility expected to become a reality and start opening?

“It is important to understand that this is a very ambitious project with a total budget of over €400 million. Now that we've received official approval, we'll begin the engineering phase, which is expected to take around a year. This will be followed by the construction phase and installation of all the equipment, which are expected to take another two years, approximately.”