Indra Group acquires a 37% stake in SPARC to become the largest shareholder of this startup specializing in chip production
With this acquisition, Indra will enter the market for the design and production of gallium nitride-based chips, a technology key to Spanish and European strategic autonomy, and critical for the defence and aerospace sectors, due to its radio frequency and AESA radar applications
SPARC was founded in 2022 with a view to building the first Spanish factory to produce photonic semiconductors, chips in increasing demand in sectors such as the automotive industry, optical communications and biomedicine
Indra Group will bring its technological and business capabilities, and international experience to the project, which is unique in Spain and one of Europe's most ambitious chip production initiatives
Indra Group has become the majority shareholder of SPARC Foundry, after acquiring a 37% stake in the company specializing in producing photonic semiconductors, thereby being at the forefront of designing and producing chips, a technology in increasing demand that’s of utmost importance to ensuring Europe’s technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
The project, unique in terms of its characteristics in Spain and one of Europe's most ambitious chip production initiatives, will be driven by Indra Group, which will bring its innovative, technological and business capabilities, and its international experience, as well as its track record as a driving force and backbone of the domestic industry.
As a result of the investment round conducted by SPARC, in which Indra Group acquired the status of majority partner, SETT became the company’s second-largest shareholder, with 31.8%, while Vigo Activo, the current shareholder, completed the round, acquiring 8.0% of the share capital.
SPARC was founded in 2022 to build the first Spanish foundry for photonic semiconductor wafers, with a value proposition focusing on the production of gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium phosphide (InP) and gallium nitride (GaN) chips for photonics, radio frequency and power applications.
The operation for the acquisition of a significant stake in SPARC includes an industrial agreement allowing Indra to guarantee the supply of gallium nitride chips and position itself in the market with its own design and manufacturing capabilities.
This technology is vital for the defence and aerospace sectors, particularly its radio frequency applications, and, specifically, the development of AESA radars. A boost for industry and skilled jobs SPARC’s semiconductor factory, which will be up and running in 2027, will be located in the Valadares Technology Park in Vigo.
It is expected to have an R&D center, a training area, and an office area, and to generate 200 higly direct highly skilled jobs and 550 indirect jobs.
Indra Group is thus also advancing toward its goal of becoming the driving force and backbone of the Spanish aerospace and defence industry, fostering industrial and manufacturing capabilities and high-quality skilled jobs throughout the country.
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