In a landmark move for Qatar’s technology sector, Belgium-headquartered imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics, has established its first regional research hub in the Middle East. Located at Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), this initiative marks a significant milestone in the Gulf’s burgeoning semiconductor landscape and Qatar’s ambition to become a central player in advanced technology.
A Strategic Partnership for Innovation
The launch follows key agreements between imec, the national investment promotion agency Invest Qatar, and the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council. The Doha-based hub will concentrate on cutting-edge fields critical to the future of technology, including advanced compute architectures, AI-enabled chip design, silicon photonics, and 3D integrated circuits.
By applying generative AI and agent-based AI to semiconductor innovation, the hub aims to accelerate the development of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and enhance design workflows, pushing the boundaries of chip development.
Building a Local Talent Pipeline
Talent development is a cornerstone of the partnership. The new hub is set to create approximately 100 highly skilled roles by 2030, with recruitment for project management, R&D, and engineering positions already underway.
In collaboration with Qatar Foundation’s extensive ecosystem of nearly 400 tech and research entities, imec will offer internships, PhD programmes, and postdoctoral opportunities. This focus on human capital is designed to cultivate a robust local talent pipeline and establish a sustainable knowledge base in advanced semiconductor technologies within Qatar.
Aligning with National Vision
This strategic initiative directly supports Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy, which prioritizes economic diversification through investment in advanced technology. The government’s strong commitment was highlighted during the formal agreement at the MWC25 Doha conference, attended by top Qatari officials.
By attracting a globally influential institution like imec, Qatar aims to position itself as a reliable and innovative anchor in the global semiconductor and AI computing value chain, accelerating regional technology transfer and innovation.
A Broader Semiconductor Investment Strategy
imec’s arrival is a key component of Qatar’s deliberate and multi-faceted strategy to build formidable capabilities in semiconductors and advanced computing. This move complements the active investment portfolio of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the nation’s sovereign wealth fund.
Recent QIA investments include participation in funding rounds for US-based AI inference chip startup Positron AI and quantum photonic computing company PsiQuantum. The authority has also made an anchor commitment to the France-focused Ardian Semiconductor platform and acquired a minority stake in Japanese semiconductor equipment maker Kokusai Electric, showcasing a clear, global vision for the sector.
About imec
imec is a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. With a team of over 6,000 specialists and a track record spanning four decades, imec leverages its expertise to deliver industry-relevant technology solutions. Its R&D spans advanced semiconductor scaling, AI, silicon photonics, and communication technologies for applications in healthcare, energy, mobility, and more. The organisation also supports the deep-tech startup ecosystem through its venture capital activities.
Source: middleeastainews
