“We’re excited to be adding 150 new staff and 3,000 square metres of new construction to our European research and development centre in Catalonia.” It was with this short, information-packed statement, made via LinkedIn, that Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) shared the news, which consolidates its commitment to designing microchips in the autonomous community.

The US company, which is based in Kirkland (Washington), has just expanded its semiconductor design centre in Barcelona by 1,200 square metres. Furthermore, the firm has now announced the construction of a new 3,000 square metre building in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, which will house a testing laboratory, as announced on the Government of Catalonia’s website.

Europe's largest R&D centre
To staff the design centre and the new laboratory, 150 highly skilled jobs will be created over the next five years. MPS was established in Barcelona in 2018 and this expansion of the facilities and workforce will turn the company's headquarters in the province of Barcelona into its largest R&D centre in Europe.

The expansion project has increased the size of the semiconductor design centre in the Catalan capital from 800 to 2,000 square metres. It has done so with the support of Acció-Catalunya Trade & Investment, which has granted the firm a subsidy of 256,000 euros. Fifty new engineers will join the forty employees already working at the new facility.

Testing laboratory
The new building is expected to be ready in early 2024. MPS, which specialises in producing semiconductors for use in electric vehicles, renewable energy, data centres and telecommunications equipment, will have a laboratory in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat for testing its new microchips. Once this is fully operational, it will employ a staff of 100 engineers.

MPS CEO Michael Hsing said, “Catalonia has a wonderful combination of excellent universities and high quality of life that attracts worldwide talent. MPS wants to offer exceptional job opportunities within the semiconductor industry to local and worldwide talent. We look forward to a great future of growth in the Catalonia region.”

^{Photo: Catalonia.com}