Malaga microchip center and the PTA initiative
In Malaga, a major technology project is advancing toward official confirmation in the coming months. Europe and government bodies are backing the project developed by the Ricardo Valle Foundation for the establishment of the Malaga Technology Park (PTA), a microchip design hub expected to produce around 550 jobs directly and through collaborating companies. This effort aligns with the EU strategy to bolster semiconductor production on European soil amid a global shortage caused by the pandemic.
The Minister of Industry, Kings Marotoi, in an interview published recently by the Prensa Ibérica group, confirmed the government’s microchip approval in May. The plan includes a 12.5 billion euro investment by 2027, with Malaga identified as one of three pivotal ecosystems alongside Catalonia and Galicia for large-scale activity from the outset.
The Malaga initiative, submitted by the Ricardo Valle Foundation (also known as Innova IRV) during the European Projects for Community Interest call (PIICE), garnered 87 government endorsements and 30 more from the Junta de Andalucía.
Ezequiel Navarro, president of the foundation, expressed optimism about government approval while remaining cautious. He noted that the executive decision would determine the project’s immediate future, stressing a hopeful but prudent stance.
The Malaga microchip center focuses on the pseudo-internet of things and ultra-low power design, anticipating a future where more devices are connected in daily life. The PTA laboratory will handle chip, software, and circuit board design, covering all pre-production stages. Its activity centers on developing a microprocessor for devices using the open-source RISC-V architecture, aimed at mass deployment across the Internet of Things, digital homes, and automotive sectors.
Navarro, CEO of Premo Group, described it as a Linux-like approach for electronics that democratizes access to semiconductor and microprocessor design using common architectures. Because no single code is owned by any entity, chips designed in Malaga can move into production without reliance on a specific brand.
The upcoming facilities mark a practical, pioneering effort to bring RISC-V solutions to all sectors within microchip technology, including bionics, defense, and automotive. The project benefits from the expertise of Mario Nemirovsky, a microelectronics specialist and technology director at Innova IRV, who is praised as a key advocate of this technology.
Felipe Romera, managing director of PTA, acknowledges the project as very ambitious. Backed by the employers’ association Ametic, it aims to transform Málaga into a European reference point for open-source microchip design.
Romera stated that everything is ready and that the government is aware of the project, with approval contingent on the PERTE bases going into effect. The team hopes to assemble a world-class design workforce and establish the center within a few months to begin activities this year. Once approved, the design process for these complex chips is expected to unfold over several months.
The foundation plans to set up an investment company named Innova Semiconductors, which will operate facilities at the PTA. Though the building is new, four sites are under consideration, with Rosalind and the UMA’s blue building among the main options. The plan also includes involving students and PhD candidates in Innova Semiconductors, signaling a strong emphasis on talent cultivation. Navarro is eager to begin as soon as possible.
The expectation is for the center to launch within 2022. Once authorization is secured, immediate work will commence, including laboratory setup, software licenses, and bringing in experts. The initial phase envisions creating a long-term laboratory and establishing the necessary infrastructure to support rapid hiring and development.
Of the 117 million euro investment, 57 million will fund the design center and 60 million will support collaboration with Spanish companies for product development. Nine microtechnology firms—Indra, Ontech, Semidynamics, Amper, Extrememory, Ingnion, Gradiant, Maxwell, and Wimmic—bring extensive microchip experience and will lead projects and job creation in this field.
The first prototypes of chips designed in Malaga were planned to be tested at IMEC in Belgium, Europe’s largest semiconductor research and development center.