# iMinds

> Flemish research non-profit

**Wikidata**: [Q2208735](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2208735)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMinds)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/iminds

## Summary
iMinds was an independent research institute founded in Flanders, Belgium, focused on interdisciplinary broadband technology. Established in 2004 as a non-profit organization, it operated until October 1, 2016, when it merged into the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC).

## Key Facts
- **Legal Name:** iMinds (also known as IBBT or Interdisciplinary Institute for BroadBand Technology).
- **Type:** Research institute / Non-profit organisation.
- **Founded:** April 22, 2004.
- **Dissolved:** October 1, 2016.
- **Location:** Ghent, Belgium.
- **Successor:** Merged into the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre.
- **Enterprise Number (Belgium):** 0866386380 (VAT: BE0866386380).
- **Website:** http://www.iminds.be/en
- **Affiliations:** Associated with computer scientist Bart De Moor.

## FAQs
### Q: Is iMinds still an active organization?
A: No, iMinds merged with the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre on October 1, 2016, and ceased to exist as an independent entity.

### Q: What did iMinds stand for?
A: The organization was also known as the Interdisciplinary Institute for BroadBand Technology (IBBT).

### Q: Where was iMinds located?
A: The research institute was based in Ghent, Belgium.

## Why It Matters
iMinds served as a significant Flemish research non-profit dedicated to interdisciplinary studies in broadband technology. As a recognized research institute, it contributed to the technological landscape of Belgium before its strategic consolidation. The organization's integration into the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre in 2016 marked a major shift in the region's research infrastructure, combining iMinds' specific focus on broadband with the broader microelectronics expertise of its successor. This merger aimed to strengthen the global competitive position of Flemish research in digital innovation.

## Notable For
- Operating as a distinct Flemish non-profit research entity for over a decade (2004–2016).
- Holding multiple international identifiers for research organizations, including GRID ID (`grid.56912.39`) and ROR ID (`03baec336`).
- Its specific focus on "BroadBand Technology," as indicated by its alias IBBT.
- Its eventual merger with the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre, a world-leading R&D hub.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
iMinds was classified as a research institute and a non-profit organisation. It was identified internationally through various identifiers, including an ISNI (`0000000093850493`), a Ringgold ID (`81857`), and a HAL Structure ID (`519300`). In academic and funding databases, it appeared under Open Funder Registry IDs `501100004003` (iMinds) and `501100004002` (Interdisciplinary institute for BroadBand Technology).

### History and Operations
The institute was legally established on April 22, 2004. It operated out of Ghent, Belgium, serving the Flemish region. Its official enterprise number in Belgium was 0866386380.

The organization's independent status concluded on October 1, 2016. On this date, iMinds was merged into the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre. This dissolution is recorded with references to its Belgian enterprise number.

### Online Presence and References
Prior to its merger, iMinds maintained a website at `http://www.iminds.be/en` (English version). It held a VIAF ID (`137954310`) and a Quora topic dedicated to "iMinds." Its digital footprint is preserved through identifiers like its Microsoft Academic ID (`39327780`) and Freebase ID (`/m/0274ytt`).

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. GRID Release 2015-12-14
3. GRID Release 2016-12-06
4. Open Funder Registry
5. Quora
6. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
7. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
8. HAL
9. [Source](https://www.newswiretoday.com/news/160844/)
10. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)