Openchip and imec Sign Strategic MoU to Advance AI Technologies

Barcelona – March 12, 2025 – Openchip is pleased to announce the plans of a long-term collaboration with imec, a global leader in nanoelectronics and digital technologies to jointly contribute to European Digital Sovereignty. This strategic partnership will drive the development of cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) systems that seamlessly integrate hardware and software, pushing the boundaries of AI innovation.

This step deepens the collaboration between the two organizations, combining Openchip's expertise in semiconductor and AI system design with imec's advanced research in AI, sensor technologies and chip design. This partnership will accelerate the creation of disruptive AI solutions tailored to real-world applications, spanning industries such as healthcare, smart industries and high-performance computing.

For this, Openchip will open an office in Ghent, Belgium.

“With the arrival of the Spanish company Openchip, a European pioneer in digital chips, Flanders once again reaffirms its leading position in the EU when it comes to innovation," says Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele. "Flanders is a knowledge-driven region that, thanks to its strong research centers, brilliant scientists, flexible workforce and favorable business climate, attracts companies eager to invest here and contribute to our prosperity. Openchip, backed by both the Spanish government and the Catalonian government, is a testament to the strength of European collaboration in advancing cutting-edge technology."

"As a European AI player, being in the heart of Europe is important for us. Moreover, the opportunity of being close to a leading research institute like imec makes Belgium a perfect location for a new site," said Cesc Guim, CEO of Openchip.

“Deepening our strategic collaboration with OpenChip offers an opportunity to leverage the advanced SoC technologies developed on the NanoIC pilotline and to strengthen the strategy of an ambitious European fabless player. This is a prime example of how the R&D leadership of the pilot lines creates growth opportunities for the European ecosystem in booming fields like AI and HPC”, says Patrick Vandenameele, Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer at imec.

Michael Peeters (VP Connected Computing imec), Jo De Boeck (CSO imec), Ignacio Astilleros (CSO Openchip), Patrick Vandenameele (co-COO imec), Rudi Cartuyvels (co-COO imec), Cesc Guim (CEO Openchip), Gert Bergen (SVP Corporate Development), Marc Fernández (Corporate General Manager & Chief Financial Officer Openchip) and Steven Latré (Chief AI & Software Systems Officer Openchip)

Openchip Appoints Steven Latré as Chief AI & Software Systems Officer

Following the start of this strategic long-term collaboration, Openchip is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Latré as Chief AI & Software Systems Officer. Steven joins Openchip from imec, where he led groundbreaking AI research initiatives and served as Vice President of AI & Algorithms. His work at imec focused on integrating sensor technologies and chip design with AI to deliver end-to-end solutions across multiple sectors. Steven will be supporting the joint mission between Openchip and imec and will be advisor for AI to imec.

In his new role, Steven will lead Openchip’s AI strategy, driving the development of AI systems that blend hardware and software to meet real-world needs. His appointment aligns with Openchip’s vision of evolving into a system-focused AI company, reinforcing its commitment to cross-disciplinary innovation.

"We are thrilled with these plans with imec and welcome Steven to our team," said Cesc Guim, CEO of Openchip. "This partnership strengthens our ability to develop next-generation AI solutions, and Steven’s expertise will be instrumental in shaping our future in AI and semiconductor technology."

This marks a significant step forward in Openchip’s growth, reinforcing its position as a key player in the AI-driven semiconductor industry.

About Openchip

Openchip is a specialized provider of System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions based on RISC-V architecture, focusing on high-performance computing and artificial intelligence. Founded in Barcelona, the company operates in Spain and Italy, with a vision to lead chip design that will contribute to Europe’s digital sovereignty by democratizing access to key technologies. Openchip’s solutions will accelerate research activities in scientific fields such as genomics, meteorology, protein design, astrophysics, energy, aerospace and advanced simulation, all of which have a high social and transformative impact.
For more information, visit https://openchip.com/

About Steven Latré

Steven Latré is a renowned expert in artificial intelligence, with over a decade of experience at imec, where he led major research initiatives and played a key role in advancing AI applications across industries. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation to create impactful AI-driven solutions.