Imec Unveils a 15-Year Blueprint for the Future of Artificial Intelligence Hardware
Antwerp, Tuesday 2 June 2026
Belgian institute Imec has revealed a 15-year strategic roadmap for artificial intelligence hardware. Targeting revolutionary chip designs by 2041, this blueprint is vital for securing European technological sovereignty.
Pushing the Boundaries of Moore’s Law
At the ITF World summit held in Antwerp on 19 and 20 May 2026, newly appointed Imec Chief Executive Officer Patrick Vandenameele articulated a highly ambitious 15-year roadmap for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology [1]. Central to this strategy is the progression toward the A2 process node, slated for commercial realisation by 2041 [1]. Achieving this milestone will require a transition to sequential complementary field-effect transistor (CFET) architectures and the deployment of “hyper NA” extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems featuring a numerical aperture of 0.75 [1]. These advancements are critical to circumventing the physical limitations of current silicon manufacturing and ensuring the continued viability of Moore’s Law [GPT].
Securing the European Value Chain
Beyond technical roadmaps, Imec’s announcements carry profound implications for European strategic autonomy. Supported by the European Union Chips Act, Imec is leveraging its NanoIC pilot line—bolstered by a €2.5 billion investment announced in May 2024—to scale capacitorless embedded dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) using indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) materials [1][2]. This initiative aims to fortify the domestic semiconductor ecosystem against global supply chain vulnerabilities and reduce reliance on foreign memory manufacturers [2][GPT].
Breakthroughs in Quantum and Physical AI
Parallel to classical scaling, Imec is achieving breakthroughs in novel computing paradigms. On 20 May 2026, the institute claimed a world first by producing a functional quantum bit (qubit) utilising High NA EUV lithography [2]. Additionally, Imec is developing superconductor platforms based on niobium-titanium-nitride (NbTiN) for single-flux-quantum circuits [1]. This specific technology is aimed at drastically reducing the physical footprint and energy consumption of AI data centres, addressing one of the industry’s most pressing sustainability challenges [1].
A Trillion-Dollar Horizon
The commercial implications of these technological roadmaps are immense. Industry experts project that accelerated private capital deployment for AI infrastructure will propel the global semiconductor market past the $1 trillion valuation threshold in 2026 [1]. This explosive growth was celebrated at a related industry event on 31 May 2026, where Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang was awarded Imec’s Lifetime of Innovation Award, underscoring the deep symbiotic relationship between cutting-edge European research institutes and commercial hardware giants [1].