Presentation of the USC-Televés Chair in Microelectronics, the project that drives Galicia towards the future of microchips in Europe
The University of Santiago, together with the technology company Televés, staged today the definitive boost to the chair that is already working to position Galicia at the forefront of the European chip industry, a project that aims to transform the future of microelectronics through research, industry, and talent, with CiTIUS at the head of its scientific direction.
The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) held the official presentation of the USC-Televés Chair of Microelectronics today in the Auditorium of the Faculty of Geography and History, a strategic initiative that has been active for months and arises within the framework of the PERTE Chip, the state program aimed at reinforcing European autonomy in microelectronics and semiconductors. The chair is scientifically led from the CiTIUS at USC, the research center that promotes the project and assumes its scientific direction under the supervision of Paula López Martínez, an affiliated researcher and deputy director of the center.
The event, presided over by Rector Antonio López, brought together various representatives from the public and private sectors: the project execution managers, Paula López herself and the CEO of the Televés Corporation, Gonzalo Redondo; the Director of Business Development of the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), José María García Orois; and the Minister of Economy and Industry of the Xunta de Galicia, María Jesús Lorenzana, among other representatives of the Galician scientific and technological ecosystem.
During the event, the Rector of USC, Antonio López, highlighted the role of the university as a driver of innovation and talent, emphasizing the relevance of this strategic alliance for Galicia. "Universities must offer training and generate knowledge, but this must be useful, which means it must be transferable with the ultimate goal of improving our lives," he said, "and at the University of Santiago, we have been working on this for decades. Today's event is a good example of this commitment, supported by private initiative."
A Place in the World (... of Microchips)
The USC–Televés Chair of Microelectronics was created with the goal of placing Galicia in a prominent position within the European microelectronic design ecosystem. The project addresses work lines related to chip design in key areas: radio frequency chips, quantum computing, integrated photonics, edge computing, advanced architectures for artificial intelligence, and the development of new semiconductors for high-efficiency communications and systems.
Coordinated from the CiTIUS (a center co-funded by the European Union through the Galicia Feder 2021–2027 Program), the Chair not only integrates research staff from the center but also other research centers at USC such as the CiQUS (Singular Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials), the IGFAE (Galician Institute of High Energy Physics), and iMATUS (Materials Institute), as well as CESGA (Galician Supercomputing Center) and the INL in Braga (International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory), thus forming a scientific ecosystem capable of tackling frontier challenges in microelectronics.
Accelerating Talent and Innovation
In her thank-you speech, the scientific leader of the project, Paula López Martínez, explained that this chair "aims to promote research, training, and transfer in these crucial areas, thus responding to the growing concern for Europe's digital sovereignty in the microelectronics and semiconductor sector." She insisted that this objective is addressed "with the indispensable support of Televés," whose collaboration she described as "crucial, both in facing technological challenges and in the transfer of knowledge to society."
Regarding the research lines included in the chair, she explained that these focus "on chip design, particularly in their orientation and application to new computing paradigms, such as edge computing, memory computing and quantum computing, as well as the design of next-generation RF (radio frequency) chips." She added that this activity "will be accompanied by cutting-edge research in a series of key technologies," highlighting "the development of new semiconductor devices for memory elements, nanoelectronic devices for 5G and IoT (Internet of Things) and integrated photonic devices for opto-quantum communications."
She also emphasized that "in addition to knowledge transfer between industry and academia," the chair has as one of its fundamental objectives the training, "both formal and informal." A focus within which "we have already launched an annual Summer School, 7 new microcredentials, 3 expert diplomas, and a Master's in Microelectronics, in addition to other specific training actions."
Meanwhile, the CEO of the Televés Corporation, Gonzalo Redondo, celebrated the collaboration between industry and university and valued the project as an opportunity to strengthen technological competitiveness from Galicia. In his intervention, he reviewed Televés' 67 years, "a great family business whose growth involves microelectronics," and congratulated the creation of this Chair "which will undoubtedly contribute to the knowledge transfer at the University of Santiago, which demonstrates understanding and meeting societal demands."
Endorsed by the PERTE Chip
On behalf of the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, José María García Orois, Director of the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), highlighted the role of universities in the development of the PERTE Chip: "the Government has always been clear that, without the creation of talent and the basic and fundamental research created by universities, the PERTE Chip would not achieve its purpose," he stated, recalling that "thanks to this conviction, the Chip Chairs are born."
He added that the USC's initiative "stands out, moreover, for its leadership by women, very relevant scientists, demonstrating that this sector does not have to be predominantly male," and highlighted its focus on "frontier areas as crucial as edge computing, photonics, and quantum, key elements in the development of tomorrow's microelectronics and in which today we define the strategies for future economic developments."
Finally, the Minister of Economy and Industry, María Jesús Lorenzana, also wanted to value the driving role of this initiative within the Xunta's innovation strategy. "The chair is closely linked to what the current economic landscape demands: achieving the incorporation of innovation and knowledge, technology, into the non-technological industry and its production processes to make our companies even more competitive," she stated.
The event concluded with an informal gathering in the cloister of the Faculty of Geography and History, where representatives from research centers, companies, and administrations exchanged views on the role Galicia is expected to play in the future European chip value chain.
The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) held the official presentation of the USC-Televés Chair of Microelectronics today in the Auditorium of the Faculty of Geography and History, a strategic initiative that has been active for months and arises within the framework of the PERTE Chip, the state program aimed at reinforcing European autonomy in microelectronics and semiconductors. The chair is scientifically led from the CiTIUS at USC, the research center that promotes the project and assumes its scientific direction under the supervision of Paula López Martínez, an affiliated researcher and deputy director of the center.
The event, presided over by Rector Antonio López, brought together various representatives from the public and private sectors: the project execution managers, Paula López herself and the CEO of the Televés Corporation, Gonzalo Redondo; the Director of Business Development of the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), José María García Orois; and the Minister of Economy and Industry of the Xunta de Galicia, María Jesús Lorenzana, among other representatives of the Galician scientific and technological ecosystem.
During the event, the Rector of USC, Antonio López, highlighted the role of the university as a driver of innovation and talent, emphasizing the relevance of this strategic alliance for Galicia. "Universities must offer training and generate knowledge, but this must be useful, which means it must be transferable with the ultimate goal of improving our lives," he said, "and at the University of Santiago, we have been working on this for decades. Today's event is a good example of this commitment, supported by private initiative."
A Place in the World (... of Microchips)
The USC–Televés Chair of Microelectronics was created with the goal of placing Galicia in a prominent position within the European microelectronic design ecosystem. The project addresses work lines related to chip design in key areas: radio frequency chips, quantum computing, integrated photonics, edge computing, advanced architectures for artificial intelligence, and the development of new semiconductors for high-efficiency communications and systems.
Coordinated from the CiTIUS (a center co-funded by the European Union through the Galicia Feder 2021–2027 Program), the Chair not only integrates research staff from the center but also other research centers at USC such as the CiQUS (Singular Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials), the IGFAE (Galician Institute of High Energy Physics), and iMATUS (Materials Institute), as well as CESGA (Galician Supercomputing Center) and the INL in Braga (International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory), thus forming a scientific ecosystem capable of tackling frontier challenges in microelectronics.
Accelerating Talent and Innovation
In her thank-you speech, the scientific leader of the project, Paula López Martínez, explained that this chair "aims to promote research, training, and transfer in these crucial areas, thus responding to the growing concern for Europe's digital sovereignty in the microelectronics and semiconductor sector." She insisted that this objective is addressed "with the indispensable support of Televés," whose collaboration she described as "crucial, both in facing technological challenges and in the transfer of knowledge to society."
Regarding the research lines included in the chair, she explained that these focus "on chip design, particularly in their orientation and application to new computing paradigms, such as edge computing, memory computing and quantum computing, as well as the design of next-generation RF (radio frequency) chips." She added that this activity "will be accompanied by cutting-edge research in a series of key technologies," highlighting "the development of new semiconductor devices for memory elements, nanoelectronic devices for 5G and IoT (Internet of Things) and integrated photonic devices for opto-quantum communications."
She also emphasized that "in addition to knowledge transfer between industry and academia," the chair has as one of its fundamental objectives the training, "both formal and informal." A focus within which "we have already launched an annual Summer School, 7 new microcredentials, 3 expert diplomas, and a Master's in Microelectronics, in addition to other specific training actions."
Meanwhile, the CEO of the Televés Corporation, Gonzalo Redondo, celebrated the collaboration between industry and university and valued the project as an opportunity to strengthen technological competitiveness from Galicia. In his intervention, he reviewed Televés' 67 years, "a great family business whose growth involves microelectronics," and congratulated the creation of this Chair "which will undoubtedly contribute to the knowledge transfer at the University of Santiago, which demonstrates understanding and meeting societal demands."
Endorsed by the PERTE Chip
On behalf of the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, José María García Orois, Director of the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), highlighted the role of universities in the development of the PERTE Chip: "the Government has always been clear that, without the creation of talent and the basic and fundamental research created by universities, the PERTE Chip would not achieve its purpose," he stated, recalling that "thanks to this conviction, the Chip Chairs are born."
He added that the USC's initiative "stands out, moreover, for its leadership by women, very relevant scientists, demonstrating that this sector does not have to be predominantly male," and highlighted its focus on "frontier areas as crucial as edge computing, photonics, and quantum, key elements in the development of tomorrow's microelectronics and in which today we define the strategies for future economic developments."
Finally, the Minister of Economy and Industry, María Jesús Lorenzana, also wanted to value the driving role of this initiative within the Xunta's innovation strategy. "The chair is closely linked to what the current economic landscape demands: achieving the incorporation of innovation and knowledge, technology, into the non-technological industry and its production processes to make our companies even more competitive," she stated.
The event concluded with an informal gathering in the cloister of the Faculty of Geography and History, where representatives from research centers, companies, and administrations exchanged views on the role Galicia is expected to play in the future European chip value chain.
