On February 27, 2025, the leading figures behind the ‘iWaves Lab’ initiative gathered to officially sign the Joint Research Structure (SRCom) between NXP Semiconductors and the IMS Laboratory.
The event was attended by Etienne Duguet, Vice President of Innovation at the University of Bordeaux; Véronique Pallet, Vice President in charge of Research and Transfer at Bordeaux INP; Melchior Faure, Head of Development for Joint Laboratories at the CNRS Department of Corporate Relations; and Christophe Landez, Director of Radar Operations at NXP Semiconductors.
The IMS laboratory and NXP Semiconductors have been working together on research activities since 2016 and already signed a common framework agreement in 2021 with a shared vision: help shaping the future of electrical engineering.
NXP’s skills in the field of semiconductors applied to Silicon sensors complement IMS’ know-how in design and measurement of integrated circuits on Silicon technologies, both specialized in the RF and millimeter frequency range.
NXP Semiconductors is the international leader in secure connectivity solutions and one of the market leaders in the global semiconductor industry. It is positioned in various sectors of the semiconductor industry for consumer and industrial applications, particularly in the fields of automotive, industrial IoT (Internet of Things) applications, secure connected devices, and communication infrastructures.
These cutting-edge topics align with the diverse research areas of the IMS laboratory, notably covering analog and digital electronics, electromagnetic simulation, and signal processing.
This SRCom thus presented itself naturally, becoming the fourth SRCom of the IMS laboratory [1].
Called ‘iWaves Lab’, it aims to combine expertise, allowing for increased mutual support and pooling of resources.
« With over 20 years of successful industrial collaborations, the IMS laboratory has established strong, lasting industrial partnerships built on trust and mutual benefit. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we embark on this exciting new chapter alongside NXP Semiconductors. By signing this joint laboratory, we are reaffirming our ongoing commitment to advancing applied research. The diverse strengths of our teams will enable us to tackle technological challenges from fresh perspectives, driving the development of even more innovative technological solutions. »
– Cristell Maneux, Director of the IMS Laboratory.
Already five IMS researchers, more than fifteen NXP engineers, and six doctoral students are working in this cooperative framework on key research subjects in the following areas:
- Development of integrated analog, RF, and mmWave circuits and systems
- Analog and mixed signal conditioning
- Signal processing for radio communications
- Algorithms and mixed architectures
- Electromagnetic compatibility and signal integrity
This work will focus on applications such as automotive radar, power amplifiers for base station applications, as well as millimeter-wave circuits for consumer applications.
To know more about this ongoing collaboration, check the following page: https://www.ims-bordeaux.fr/collaboration/nxp/
iWaves lab contact: Thierry Tarris (IMS) and Léo Lançon (NXP).
From left to right: Christophe Landez, Etienne Duguet, Véronique Pallet and Melchior Faure, ready to sign the official document for the Joint Research Structure ‘iWaves Lab’. Photo credits: © Gautier DUFAU.
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[1] The IMS laboratory is committed to building significant collaboration with local, national and international industry players in various fields.
These partnerships with leading businesses allow the lab to translate cutting-edge research into real-world applications in order to address societal challenges.
When the relationship becomes substantial and long term, an IMS-industrial framework agreement is set up, eventually leading to a Joint Research Structure (SRCom).
