The signing of the agreement was witnessed by H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the National Planning Council.
Located in Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), imec’s R&D facility will bring imec’s chip design expertise to Qatar and the broader Middle East.
The regional hub will support the creation of PDKs for technologies including silicon photonics, 3D ICs, and silicon interposers.
Additionally, it will explore innovative design workflows and the use of generative and agent-based AI in the development of ASICs.
As well as R&D, imec will nurture semiconductor talent through development programmes, internships, and PhD initiatives in collaboration with universities, companies, and startups, across various industries.
These efforts will contribute to establishing a robust semiconductor talent pipeline in the region. Imec’s Qatar hub will start hiring immediately and aims to reach 100 employees by 2030. Roles will include site management, R&D, research engineering and support positions.
“After growing our footprint across Europe, the USA and Asia, we are proud to add another chapter to our internationalisation strategy with the launch of our Qatar hub,” says imrc CEO Luc Van den hove, “with this regional hub, we aim to contribute to the region’s growing momentum in semiconductor innovation and its broader shift toward a diversified, sustainable economy. As the region invests in advanced compute and energy technologies, and advanced chip design, we’re committed to supporting this transformation through deep tech expertise, regional talent development, and partnerships built on mutual respect and global collaboration.”
“Qatar is solidifying its position as a regional hub for advanced technologies and sustainable R&D investments,” says Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO of Invest Qatar.
