The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has opened its new Quantum Nanofabrication Area within the Clean Room of the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM). This facility, the most significant of its kind in Spain, will substantially bolster Spanish and European capabilities in the development of advanced semiconductors.
The inauguration was attended by the President of the CSIC, Eloísa del Pino; the Minister of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Núria Montserrat; and the Secretary General for Research of the MICIU, Eva Ortega. This new space is designed for the fabrication of nanoscale devices and circuits with strategic applications in quantum technologies and advanced microelectronics.
The total investment for the comprehensive renovation of this area exceeds 6 million euros, funded by the Plan Complementario de Comunicaciones Cuánticas and the PERTE Chip, supported by Next Generation EU funds from the European Union. These initiatives are crucial for facilitating the transition from fundamental research to the development of devices with potential for future industrial applications in fields such as communications, quantum computing, health, energy, and security.
The Quantum Nanofabrication Area is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including Spain's most advanced electron beam lithography system, the EBPG 5150Plus, as well as new equipment for inspecting and analyzing nanoscale devices. These tools will be accessible to the scientific and technological community, promoting research and advanced prototyping in quantum technologies.
This initiative consolidates the IMB-CNM's four-decade trajectory in micro and nanoelectronics and strengthens the CSIC's position in European chip and quantum technology initiatives. The CSIC has also launched its Strategy for Quantum Science and Technologies, which includes the establishment of the Quantum Science and Technologies Center QuARC-CSIC to foster excellence in research and promote technological transfer.
