Luc Van den hove, President & Chief Executive Officer of imec, leads Europe’s premier nanoelectronics and digital technologies research organization. imec drives cutting-edge semiconductor R&D, from AI-ready architectures to health and smart-city applications.
He has uniquely shaped a global innovation ecosystem – uniting academia, industry, and regions – to future-proof AI hardware and sustain technological leadership.
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- Luc Van den hove is the CEO of imec. Imec is a world-leading research hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, advancing innovation across AI, healthcare, and smart industries. His mission is to create next-generation chips that empower global industries and future-proof technology for generations to come.
- Luc Van earned his PhD in Electrical Engineering from KU Leuven, Belgium. This rigorous academic training gave him the technical expertise and analytical skills that propelled his journey from researcher to global semiconductor leader.
- Starting out in 1984 as a researcher in materials and interconnects, he worked his way through imec’s ranks. Each role prepared him to eventually lead the organization into its current global stature.
- The bold merger with iMinds in 2016 redefined imec’s reach. By blending hardware with AI, security, and data science, the institute moved into healthcare, mobility, and smart city solutions.
- A landmark achievement was securing €2.5 billion through the EU Chips Act. This funding created Europe’s first pilot line for sub-2 nm chips and strengthened its technological independence.
- In partnership with ASML, imec demonstrated High-NA lithography, the next frontier in chipmaking. This breakthrough allows circuits to be printed smaller and faster than ever before.
- To address AI’s rapid pace, he pushed for flexible chip architectures. The result is hardware that saves energy and adapts quickly to evolving algorithms.
- imec today employs more than 5,500 experts worldwide, collaborating with giants like Intel Corporation, Samsung Electronics, NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Under Van den Hove’s vision, it has become a global hub for semiconductor progress.
- His journey tells a story of vision, resilience, and collaboration. The lesson he shares with the world: think globally, innovate boldly, and always design for the generations ahead.
*Excerpts from September 2025 interview with Annabelle Droulers of Bloomberg News.
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