Semiconductors: Opportunities and Challenges

17 March 2025 | INL, Braga, Portugal 

RSVP 14 March

About the Event

Press Contact: communication@inl.int

On the 17th of March, the event “Semiconductors: Opportunities and Challenges” takes place at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), in Braga. This event will bring together members of the Portuguese Government, key decision-makers, industry leaders, and researchers to share the strategies and initiatives from different geographies and to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the semiconductor sector in the country, at regional level, within the EU, and at international level.

The event is organized together by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the National Innovation Agency (ANI), the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), and the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and the Ministry of Economy. It constitutes an opportunity to debate and reflect about the national strategy and to showcase Portuguese research and industrial projects in this sector.

 Held at INL’s world-class facilities in Braga, Portugal, this meeting is supported by POEMS — Portuguese Competence Centre in Semiconductors — co-funded by FCT and by the Chips Joint Undertaking. It serves as a key platform to spotlight Portugal’s contributions to strengthening Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem, allowing for in-depth discussions on emerging technologies, innovation-driven collaborations, opportunities and challenges. This initiative aligns with the EU Chips Act, reinforcing Europe’s ambition to lead in semiconductor training, research, development, and manufacturing.

“New worlds to the world they will show”
— Luís de Camões, The Lusiads, Canto II, Stanza 45.

Programme Overview

a

Preliminary Version Listing All Confirmed Participants

 Morning Session   

09:00 - 09:30 Registration

09:30 - 10:00 Opening Session

  • Clivia M. Sotomayor Torres, Director General of International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL)

  • João Rui Ferreira, Secretary of State for Economy

  • Eva Ortega Paíno, Spanish Secretary General for Research

10:00 - 11:15 The Geostrategic Importance of Semiconductors

Panel Discussion
Moderator: Pedro Saraiva, Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Public Policies (PLANAPP)

  • Arian Zwegers, Microelectronics and Photonics Unit (DG-CONNECT)

  • Augusto Gadelha Vieira, CEITEC (Brasil)

  • Anna Wilson, Department of Science Technology and Innovation (UK)

  • José María García, SETT (Sociedad Española para la Transformación Tecnológica)

11:15 -11:45 Coffee Break

11:45-13:00 Opportunities and Challenges in Semiconductors (Part I)

  • Keynote: Jari Kinaret, Chips JU Executive Director

Panel Discussion
Moderator: Rui Oliveira, Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciência (INESC TEC)

  • Elvira Fortunato, Centro de Investigação de Materiais do Instituto de Nanoestruturas,
    Nanomodelação e Nanofabricação (CENIMAT|i3N)

  • Paulo Freitas, Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores em Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC-MN)

  • Helena Braga, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP)

  • Célio Albuquerque, Synopsys 

13:00-14:15 Network lunch – INL Lobby

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17 March, 2025

Afternoon session

14:15- 14:45 Afternoon Keynote

  • NanoSystems: Lab-to-Fab, Tathagata Srimani, College of Engineering, Carnegie Melon University

  • Afonso Teles da Cunha, Intel Foundry

14:45- 16:00 Opportunities and Challenges in Semiconductors (Part II)

  • Keynote: Deji Akinwande, University of Texas at Austin

Panel Discussion
Moderator: Pedro Almeida, Fraunhofer Portugal

  • Ricardo Ferreira, Research Group Leader, INL

  • José Moreira da Silva, Amkor Technology Portugal

  • Henrique de Oliveira Miguel, CEITEC

16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break

16:30 - 17:30 Portuguese Strategy for Semiconductors

Panel Discussion
Moderator: Madalena Alves, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)

  • António Grilo, Agência Nacional de Inovação (ANI)

  • Alcino Lavrador, Rede de Inovação de Aveiro, Inova-RIA

  • Paula Galvão, INL (Competence Centre)

  • António Cunha, Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte (CCDR-N)

17:30 - 17:45 Closing remarks

  • Fernando Alexandre, Portuguese Minister of Education, Science and Innovation

17:45 - 18:30 Cocktail – INL Lobby

Venue

INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory is an Intergovernmental Organization headquartered in Braga, Portugal created under an international legal status to foster cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in Nanotechnology and Nanoscience.

The spacious common areas of INL are designed to set a friendly atmosphere, allowing abundant natural lighting to promote informal, spontaneous meetings and networking.

Getting to INL

Address: Avenida Mestre José Veiga, S/N | 4715-330 Braga | Portugal

  • Arrival at Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport

    This airport is a central hub in Northwest Iberia, and it’s about a 30‑minute drive to Braga via a direct highway.

From the airport to Braga

  • By Car | Braga is accessible via several highways:

    • North: A3

    • South: A3 and A1 (from Lisbon)

    • East: A11 and A7

    • West: A28

  • By Bus | A GetBus transfer operates from the airport arrivals area. The fare is around €9 one way.

  • By Taxi | Taxis are available right in front of the airport arrivals. Expect a fare of about €60 one way. , ~€60 one way.

  • By Train | Trains arrive daily from different cities in Portugal and Spain. To reach Porto train station, use the airport subway station (Metro do Porto).

Parking: Since parking is not allowed in the INL premises, make sure to allow extra time for drop-off and finding suitable parking nearby.

If you have any questions, please contact us at conference.office@inl.int