IMEL (Institute of Microelectronics) has been established in the year 1986 as one of the eight Research Institutes of NCSR Demokritos (National Center for Scientific Research), a medium size, multidisciplinary Research Center under the General Secretarial for Research and Technology of the Ministry of Development.

Through more than 20 years of research and technology, IMEL has developed experience and expertise, as well as unique technological advantages, which place it among the main EU Research Institutes in the field of Silicon technologies.

Its initial focus on Microelectronics has been expanded to the fields of sensors and MEMs/NEMs, including nano-biosensors and systems. The strong advantages of IMEL are as follows:
• Its excellent staff, composed of a small number of experienced senior scientists, surrounded by a large number of young researchers, all fully devoted to their work
• Research facilities in silicon processing, micro and nanofabrication, characterization and testing, which are unique in Greece
• Important expertise and know-how, as well as important proprietary technologies, materials and devices. Its intellectual property (IP) portfolio continues to expand and opens important possibilities for collaboration with industry and transfer of know how

Research at IMEL is carried out at EU level through its participation in European research projects, networks of excellence, and technology platforms. EU projects are across a number of specific priorities of the EU Research Framework Programme, including mainly Information Society Technologies (IST), Nanotechnology, Materials and Production Processes (NMP), Energy and Health. IMEL’s success in the above peer reviewed R&D funded programmes represents one of the strongest endorsements of IMEL’s R&D competence and reflects the world-class standing of the Institute.

On national level the expertise and infrastructure of IMEL are unique in Greece, which makes its role for the country also unique in an effort to develop novel technologies, to transfer technology and know-how to the industry and to develop human potential, which constitutes the principal driving force for an industrial activity in high technology. Furthermore, IMEL developed mechanisms to promote the field at national level through the establishment and coordination of thematic networks and scientific societies (MMN Network, Micro & Nano scientific society).

In the year 2006 IMEL became a partner of the European Integrated Activity of Excellence and Networking for Nano and Micro-Electronics Analysis that started in December 2006 with EU funding. Through this Network IMEL provides services in advanced electrical and optical characterization of Si devices, materials and structures.

Two other strategic decisions were also taken in the year 2006. IMEL became one of the founding members of the European Academic and Scientific Association for Nanoelectronics (EASAN) that aims at promoting scientific collaborations with industry and providing skills and expertise for the execution of common projects, studies, as well as education and training in Nanoelectronics. In addition, IMEL signed a memorandum of collaboration with TYNDALL (Ireland), VTT (Finland) and CNM (Spain) to promote the field of “Beyond Moore” activities within the technology platform ENIAC for Nanoelectronics.