The Generalitat de Catalunya officially formed the board of the InnoFAB Foundation on Monday in Barcelona. This non-profit organisation, attached to the Department of Research and Universities, will launch Catalonia's new advanced semiconductor prototyping infrastructure.
The project involves an investment of nearly €400 million and will be located in the Parc de l'Alba, next to the Synchrotron. According to the Catalan government, it will help generate talent, entrepreneurs, and high-tech start-ups, as well as small and medium-sized businesses in micro and nanotechnologies.
Governing Body Established
The board comprises several key government ministers: Albert Dalmau for the Presidency, Alícia Romero for Economy and Finance, Miquel Sàmper for Business and Labour, and Núria Montserrat for Research and Universities. An executive commission, with five board-appointed members, will lead the organisational structure, alongside directors and managers. An advisory council of renowned researchers will also be created.
InnoFAB is set to become a critical component of Catalonia's knowledge system. It will be the region's first development and prototyping centre for advanced semiconductor-based micro and nanotechnologies. The technical project has been led by the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) until now. The anticipated €400 million investment will receive European funding through the NextGenerationEU funds.
Facilities and Impact
The new centre will feature a 2,000 square metre cleanroom for manufacturing prototypes and small batches of advanced semiconductors. These will have applications in strategic areas such as electronics, health, and energy. The facility will include three additional buildings: the FAB, an office and laboratory building, and an auxiliary services building, totalling approximately 22,000 square metres of constructed area.
While InnoFAB's primary activity will focus on Catalonia, its collaborations and impact are expected to reach national, European, and international levels. The government explained that the goal is to cover the entire 'Lab-to-Fab' process, enabling innovations developed in laboratories to become industrial products. The project is also expected to create 200 direct jobs and establish Catalonia as a leader in the semiconductor sector.
InnoFAB is part of the 'Trident Innovador' initiative outlined in the 'Pla Catalunya Lidera', which aims to consolidate Catalonia as a European leader in technological and industrial innovation, with a particular focus on semiconductors.
