Luc Van den hove
Luc Van den hove is President and CEO of imec since July 1, 2009. Before he was executive vice president and chief operating officer. He joined imec in 1984, starting his research career in the field of silicide and interconnect technologies. In 1988, he became manager of imec’s micro-patterning group (lithography, dry etching); in 1996, department director of unit process step R&D; and in 1998, vice president of the silicon process and device technology division. In January 2007, he was appointed as imec's EVP & COO. Luc Van den hove received his PhD in electrical engineering from the KU Leuven, Belgium.
In 2023, he was honored with the Robert N. Noyce medal for his leadership in creating a worldwide research ecosystem in nanoelectronics technology with applications ranging from high-performance computing to health.
In 2025, he was awarded the honorary distinction from the Flemish Community in recognition of his impressive role in strengthening Flanders as a leading innovative region.
He has authored or co-authored more than 200 publications and conference contributions.
Starting in April 2026, he will take on a new role as Chair of imec’s Board of Directors.
Authored articles
From lab to leadership: Luc Van den hove reflects on a remarkable journey – from researcher to imec CEO
Luc Van den hove steps into his new role as Chairman of imec. Time to reflect on his journey: from a young researcher to the CEO of the world's leading chip R&D lab.
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Scaling chip innovation at the speed of AI
A new era of grand chip scaling challenges has begun: imec’s vision for 2026.
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Be visionary, aim high, and dare to make bold decisions: perspectives for 2025
EU investments in chip technology will revitalize the European industrial landscape, put Europe on the map as an innovation leader, and help start-ups grow into unicorns.
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A grain of sand, a world of hope
Reflecting on 2024, which marks imec's 40th anniversary, imec's CEO emphasizes the potential of microchips to tackle some of humanity's most pressing challenges.
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Extremely Small, Profoundly Big: imec's Forty-Year Microchip Odyssey
Forty years of imec: what began as an initiative driven by a handful of visionary KU Leuven researchers has become a world-leading R&D center for microchip technology.
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2024: The Year of Truth
2024 will be a pivotal year marked by the quest for (renewed) partnerships, sustainable chip production, and joint talent development.
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2023 was a big year for AI, making it a big deal for everyone
With the introduction of generative AI, artificial intelligence has become accessible at everyone’s fingertips. This unlocks extraordinary opportunities.
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