POEMS joins Iberian Semiconductor Network to Accelerate Regional Innovation

During the EPoSS Annual Forum, held in Braga, the three competence centres from Portugal and Spain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Iberian Network of Chips Competence Centres.

The agreement brings together POEMS (Portugal), MicroNanoSpain and PIXSpain with the aim of promoting structured cooperation, strategic alignment and the visibility of the Iberian ecosystem in Europe.

The challenge launched by POEMS aims to expand the centres’ activities beyond national borders, opening doors for national companies to a wider range of services in areas strategic to the Portuguese business sector, such as chip design, integrated circuits in photonics, integrated systems and advanced materials.

The Iberian Network will serve as a hub for the regional partnership, promoting scientific and industrial meetings, as well as training and education programmes. The first joint initiative will take place in December this year in Barcelona, with the first Iberian Semiconductor Summit, held as a satellite event of the ChipNation congress. This forum will bring together key industry players, start-ups and academic institutions to discuss common challenges and identify real opportunities for collaboration.

“This memorandum marks the start of practical cooperation to make our capabilities more visible and accessible to businesses, researchers and students across the Iberian region,” says Mariana Fernandes, Head of National Funding at INL – the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, and POEMS Coordinator. “Our shared aim is to create a highly coordinated innovation environment. By aligning our services, connecting stakeholders with specialist knowledge and infrastructure, and providing clear entry points for SMEs and start-ups, we are strengthening our regional contribution to the Chips Act.”

This partnership will support the exchange of technological services and the sharing of best practice, with the aim of positioning the Iberian semiconductor ecosystem on the European stage.