Microchip manufacturer ChipFlow has announced that it is relocating its headquarters from the UK to Spain to facilitate its integration into the European semiconductor ecosystem. This move will give the company access to opportunities for growth, talent development, financing and collaboration. The company has already been part of the European open source EDA (electronic design automation) circles for years, together with leading universities and research centres, so this is a natural step.

The idea began to take shape when ChipFlow received the Seal of Excellence from the European Innovation Council (EIC). The company already realised at the time that moving within the borders of the European Union would help it to forge closer ties with the industry on the continent. Its eligibility for the subsidies that will come with the EU Chips Act will also benefit from this change of location.

Job creation
15 employees currently work for ChipFlow in the UK and Europe. The company, which prioritises teleworking, is now focusing on Spain in order to grow its team. So far, it has already hired its first engineer, and expects to close the first half of the year with three professionals, rising to six by the end of the year.

At the same hiring rate of three employees per quarter, including senior integrated circuit (IC) engineers and both IC and software engineers, the workforce will reach 18 employees by the end of 2027. Workers with no prior knowledge of IC can specialise by using its Python-based platform. It is aiming to obtain support from EU grants in this process of employment generation.

Support from Invest In Spain
For the British company, Spain represents a vibrant talent base, supported by growing investment from semiconductor companies. With a view to entering the Spanish market, it has received support from Invest In Spain, which has been helping the company to create a plan to organise its relocation since the summer of 2024. The company has also received support from institutions like the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Spanish Semiconductor Industry Association (Aesemi).

ChipFlow CEO Tomi Rantakari says the move to Spain “is a big step forward for our company. Spain's commitment to semiconductor innovation, coupled with its growing talent and supportive ecosystem, makes it the perfect place for our next stage. We will be recruiting our first employees in Spain this month and look forward to working closely with local partners, universities and industry leaders.”