Cybersecurity, digital identity and internet of things (IoT) innovations company WISeKey has announced its participation in launching an innovative semiconductor centre in Murcia. The initiative, which it is leading together with Odin Solution, a spin-off from the University of Murcia (UMU), has won the support of the Government of Spain and is expected to involve an investment of 60 million euros.

The announcement followed a meeting held at UMU between representatives of the two companies and a third partner, the Murcian company T-Protege, with the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, María González Veracruz, the Vice-Chancellor of the academic institution, José Luján, and Professor Antonio Skarmeta.

International benchmark
The agreement involves creating a centre for designing and customising high-performance cybersecurity chips that aims to become an international benchmark in cybersecurity. The participation of the Swiss company, internationally recognised in the field of digital security, has helped to attract the interest of the Government of Spain, which has welcomed it into the Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation of Microelectronics and Semiconductors in Spain (PERTE Chip).

The PERTE Chip, which plans to mobilise 12.25 billion euros by 2027, is the largest of those launched by the Government of Spain, and is led by the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure. Thanks to the three companies that support it specialising in cybersecurity research projects, the centre will offer solutions to its clients as well as to the industrial sector, public administration and citizens, facilitating access to advanced technologies and improving the cybersecurity of critical systems.

Highly skilled technology jobs
After the meeting, the Secretary of State said that “the Region of Murcia will become the epicentre of chip design and cybersecurity, marking a milestone in the digital industry and generating numerous skilled jobs”. Around 350 highly skilled technology jobs will in fact be generated by this initiative.

The UMU Vice-Chancellor reiterated the institution's contribution to this project as an example of knowledge transfer to the private sector and public-private collaboration for the region’s economic and social development. After participating remotely in the meeting, the representative of WISeKey, Carlos Moreira, reaffirmed his company's commitment to innovation in digital security and highlighted the importance of this centre for the technological future of Murcia and the world.

Europe's technological sovereignty
According to Odin Solutions CEO José Trigueros, “Given the instability of the current geopolitical situation, there is a clear need to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem in the EU by reducing external dependencies, as a key step towards Europe's technological sovereignty”.

Finally, T-Protege's Chief Information Officer, Francisco Martínez Asensio, highlighted three positive consequences for the region, “The creation of a hub for quality employment, the strengthening of an advanced industrial sector and a decisive boost to RD&I, particularly in the field of regional universities”.

^{Photo: WiseKey}