Speaker
Karel van Gils
Regional Managing Director imec Spain - imec
Biography
Karel van Gils holds a master’s degree in microelectronics and began his career at ICOS Vision Systems, a KU Leuven spin-off specializing in semiconductor backend metrology and inspection. He led the team developing next-generation optics and algorithms, earning five international patents in the process.
Following ICOS’s acquisition by KLA in 2008, Karel became Director of Engineering, where he oversaw the development of new inspection and metrology platforms and helped define the company’s technology strategy roadmap.
In 2018, he joined imec as R&D Fab Director, managing a broad range of responsibilities including pilot line coordination and project portfolio management. Since 2023, he has played a central role in establishing imec’s presence in Spain, contributing to all aspects of the initiative—from ecosystem building to the design of a 300mm pilot fab.
He was recently appointed Regional Managing Director of imec Spain.
Talk(s)
Imec in Spain
Imec is expanding into Spain. This presentation will outline the motivations for our presence, review the progress of our strategic plans, and discuss the potential contributions we aim to make within the Spanish technological landscape. Additionally, we will detail the scope of collaborative initiatives we intend to launch across academic and industrial sectors in Spain over the coming years.
Panel - Venturing into the future: Shaping innovation at scale / Moderator: Karel van Gils
Deep tech innovation—where advanced software meets cutting-edge hardware—requires far more than vision. This panel dives into the realities of scaling ventures built on complex technologies like custom semiconductors and neurotech, where silicon at the core demands immense technical expertise, specialized infrastructure, and sustained capital.
We’ll explore how these high-stakes startups evolve—from research breakthroughs to commercialization—and the unique challenges of building transformative hardware-software systems in markets resistant to change. This is a conversation about the future, grounded in the realities of deep tech venturing.