Official inauguration of the NanoIC pilot line

Luc Van den hove

President & CEO - imec

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.

He has authored or co-authored more than 200 publications and conference contributions.

Christophe Fouquet

President & CEO - ASML

French national, member of the Board of Management since 2018 (term expires in 2026).

Christophe joined ASML in 2008 and has held several management positions in marketing and product management.

Christophe holds a masters’ degree in physics from the Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble. Before ASML, he worked at semiconductor equipment industry peers KLA Tencor and Applied Materials.

• Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer at ASML (2022-2024)
• Executive Vice President EUV (2018-2022)
• Executive Vice President Applications at ASML (2013-2018)
• Management positions in marketing and product management at ASML (2008-2013)
• Director of Marketing at KLA Tencor (2003-2008)
• Global Product Manager at Applied Materials (1997-2001)

Henna Virkkunen

EVP - European Commission

As Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Ms Henna Virkkunen is tasked with combatting the increasingly complex security threats facing the EU, whilst at the same time strengthening our external borders and our internal security. This goes hand in hand with her responsibility to ensure our freedoms, justice and democracy are strengthened too.

Furthermore, she is responsible for the Digital and Frontier Technologies portfolio. This entails leading Europe’s efforts in shaping a competitive, resilient and inclusive digital future and maintaining or attaining leadership in strategic digital technologies.

Prior to joining the European Commission Ms Virkkunen served as a Member of the European Parliament for over ten years. As a Member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy her work focused on digitalisation, research and frontier technologies.

Ms Virkkunen has held various ministerial positions in Finland, namely Minister of Transport and Local Government (2014), Minister of Public Administration and Local Government (2011-2014) as well as Minister of Education and Science (2008-2011).

Bart De Wever

Prime Minister of Belgium

Bart De Wever (born 1970) has been serving as Prime Minister of Belgium since February 3, 2025, becoming the first Flemish nationalist to hold this position in the Belgian federal government. He previously served as Mayor of Antwerp from January 2013 until February 2025, and now still holds the title of titular mayor. Before his premiership, De Wever led the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) political party, for over 20 years.

Bart studied history at the University of Antwerp and the KU Leuven. He started his career as a Teaching Assistant (TA) at KU Leuven. After the dissolution of the People’s Union (VU), he was one of the founders of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). He chose to put aside his academic career and devote himself fully to politics. From 2004 on, he has served various terms as a member of the Flemish Parliament, the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate. 

Bart De Wever succeeded in making the N-VA the largest party of Flanders. Its ideology is based on modern conservative and free enterprise economical views. The N-VA stands for a fiscally responsible and realistic socio-economic policy that protects the interests of all those who work, create, innovate, invest and stimulate business.

De Wever wrote columns for various newspapers and has published several books, including the popular essays ‘On identity’ and ‘On woke’. He is fascinated by Ancient Rome. His historical knowledge and Latin quotes are legendary. Today, he lives in Deurne, together with his wife Veerle and their four children. He is a teetotaler, likes running and has completed several marathons, including the iconic Athens marathon.

Matthias Diependaele

Flemish Minister-President, Flemish Government

Matthias Diependaele (born 1979) is the Flemish Minister-President and responsible for Economy, Industry and Innovation, Foreign Affairs, Digitalization, and Facilities Management. Since September 2024, he has led the Flemish Government Diependaele I, a coalition of N-VA, Vooruit, and CD&V.
He studied law at KU Leuven, specializing in international and European law. After gaining initial experience as a political staff member in the European Parliament, he was elected to the Flemish Parliament in 2009. At that time, he was the youngest member of parliament. He went on to become the N-VA’s parliamentary group leader.

In 2019, he became a Flemish minister for the first time, responsible for Finance and Budget, Housing, and Immovable Heritage.

Matthias Diependaele lives in Zottegem and is the father of four children. He also has two stepchildren with his partner Sarah.

Romano Hoofman

Strategic Development Director imec.IC-link - imec

Romano Hoofman is Strategic Development Director at imec.IC-link since 2016. He is currently responsible for the innovation programs of the unit and for the coordination of the EUROPRACTICE Service.

He started his career in industry, where he worked as a Principal Scientist at Philips Research and later on NXP Semiconductors. He covered many different R&D topics, ranging from CMOS integration, advanced packaging, thin film batteries, photovoltaics and (bio)sensors.

Romano received his PhD from the Technical University of Delft in 2000, where he investigated charge transport in semi-conducting polymers. He has authored more than 30 publications and holds more than 10 patents in various research areas.