Louvain is the heart of Belgian technological research: imec, the world reference centre in nanoelectronics, sits alongside the KU Leuven Technology Transfer Office (LRD), one of the most active university patent portfolios in Europe. Technical translation in Louvain operates in an environment of high confidentiality, where the translated documents involve major intellectual property rights and where terminological precision is a sine qua non condition of the validity of patents and international licences.
Louvain, capital of Belgian R&D: semiconductors, patents and automation
imec is the largest independent research centre in nanoelectronics in the world, with more than 5,500 researchers from 95 countries. The projects conducted in Louvain involve the largest players in the global semiconductor sector: TSMC, Intel, Samsung, ASML, Applied Materials. The documentation produced in this context - specifications of EUV lithography processes, material characterisation reports, device test protocols - is of extreme technical complexity and subject to confidentiality agreements (NDA) that are very strict. The translation of these documents requires translators with a scientific training in semiconductor physics or in electronic engineering.
The KU Leuven Research and Development (LRD) manages one of the most active intellectual property portfolios in Europe: more than 1,000 active patents in fields ranging from nanoelectronics to biotechnology, via mechanics and software. The translation of patents for international filings PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty)or EP (European patent) is a speciality in its own right: each claim must be translated with absolute precision, because an error can restrict or invalidate the legal protection in the designated countries.
Siemens has an R&D centre in Louvain, specialised in industrial automation systems. The documentation of the programmable logic controllers (PLC) of Siemens - TIA Portal manuals, programming guides Step 7, datasheets of the SINAMICS drives - must be translated into several languages for the clients and integrators in the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking Belgian markets.
The main typologies of technical translation in Louvain:
- imec (nanoelectronics and semiconductors): specifications of EUV lithography processes, electrical and physical characterisation reports of devices, cleanroom documentation (protocols, cleaning procedures, contaminant management), under strict NDA with complete traceability of access
- KU Leuven LRD (patents and technology transfer): translation of patents PCT/EP (claims, description, abstract), technology licence agreements, material transfer agreements (MTA), multilingual confidentiality agreements for industrial partnerships
- Siemens R&D Belgium (automation and drives): manuals PLC TIA Portal and Step 7 in FR/NL/EN/DE, datasheets of the SINAMICS and SINUMERIK drives, integration guides for the Belgian system integrators
- Bekaert (high-technology steel wire): technical specifications of galvanised and treated wires, standards EN ISO 16120(steel wire rod), quality control procedures, product sheets for the export markets (automotive, construction, energy)
- Umicore R&D (materials and catalysts): technical publications and research reports on catalysis materials, translations of advanced material patents, safety sheets for precious metals and rare earths according to REACH
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Semiconductors, PCT/EP patents, Siemens automation, EASA, materials. Scientific and technical translators under NDA. Free quote within 1h.
Patents, aviation AMM and semiconductor documentation
The translation of patents is one of the most demanding technical specialities. A PCT patent filed from an invention of KU Leuven can designate up to 150 countries: the translation of the claims is mandatory in the official languages of the designated countries that require it (Germany, France, Japan, China, Korea, Russia in particular). An error in the translation of an independent claim can either unintentionally broaden the protection (risk of partial nullity), or restrict it (loss of protection on important variants of the invention).
Our patent translators have a technical training in the field of the invention (electronics, chemistry, mechanics, biotechnology) and a legal training in intellectual property law. They work in collaboration with the clients' patent attorneys to ensure that the terminology used in the translation is consistent with the claims of the related patents already filed in the same patent family.
The aircraft maintenance manuals (AMM - Aircraft Maintenance Manual)are another field of high specialisation. These documents, which govern the maintenance operations of the approved organisations EASA Part 145, follow the structure imposed by the chapter ATA iSpec 2200 or the standard S1000D. The aeronautical terminology is strictly standardised and tolerates no approximation: an incorrect term in a maintenance procedure can lead to a non-conformity during an EASA audit or, in the worst case, to an accident. Our aeronautical translators have experience in the approved maintenance organisations.
The imec documentation on the EUV lithography processes (Extreme Ultraviolet) is among the most confidential and most specialised documents that exist in the semiconductor industry. These specifications describe the exact parameters of the atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes, plasma etching, ion implantation. The terminology is partly proprietary (imec uses its own process denominations) and partly standardised by the industrial associations (SEMI Standards, ITRS/IRDS roadmap). Our semiconductor translators master both registers.
| Type of technical document | Indicative rate | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Technological patent PCT (claims + description) | € 0.22/word | 3-5 working days |
| Semiconductor process documentation (NDA, confidential) | € 0.20/word | 3-5 working days |
| PLC / automation manual (TIA Portal, Step 7) | € 0.15/word | 2-4 working days |
| AMM / CMM aviation EASA Part 145 | € 0.19/word | 4-7 working days |
| High-performance material specification (wire, catalysts) | € 0.16/word | 2-3 working days |
The rates applied for patents and confidential documentation are higher than the market average due to the specialisation requirements, the confidentiality obligations and the legal liability engaged. A detailed quote is established upon analysis of the document.
Confidentiality and data security in R&D translation
The Louvain companies and research institutes work on breakthrough technologies whose value can amount to hundreds of millions of euros. The confidentiality of the documents submitted for translation is a non-negotiable requirement. Our commitments regarding documentary security:
- Systematic NDA: signing of a confidentiality agreement before any access to the documents, covering the translator, the reviewer and the project manager
- Secure transfer: encrypted transfer platform (AES-256), never sending by unsecured email, deletion of the files after delivery according to your instructions
- Verified translators: our technical translators in semiconductors and R&D have verified professional backgrounds in the sector, no recourse to occasional translators for sensitive documents
- Complete traceability: logging of access to the documents, versioning, register of modifications available on request for the quality audits
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imec semiconductors, KU Leuven patents, Siemens automation, EASA. Specialised translators under NDA. Confidentiality guaranteed. Free quote.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is the confidentiality of a translation of imec documentation on semiconductors ensured?
Confidentiality in the translation of imec documentation relies on several levels of protection. First, a specific NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)is signed by each person having access to the documents: translator, reviewer, project manager. Then, the documents are transferred via an encrypted sharing platform, never by email. Our semiconductor translators work on dedicated workstations with computer-assisted translation systems (CAT tools) configured not to send data to external cloud servers. Upon delivery, the source and target files are deleted from our systems according to your retention policy, or archived in encrypted form if you wish to keep translation memories. We can also work within your secure IT environment if imec requires it contractually.
Must a KU Leuven patent translated for the Japanese market go through a JPO-approved patent firm?
To file a patent in Japan (national phase of a PCT application), the Japanese translation of the application must be certified as conforming and filed by a Japanese patent attorney registered with the JPO (Japan Patent Office). The technical translator produces the high-quality Japanese translation, but it is the Japanese patent attorney who certifies the translation and officially files it. In practice, KU Leuven LRD works with international patent firms (Dennemeyer, Marks & Clerk, CMS) who coordinate the local agents. Our role is to produce a precise technical translation of the claims and the description, which the Japanese patent attorney can then validate and certify. We work regularly in collaboration with patent firms for international filing projects.
Does the translation of an AMM (Aircraft Maintenance Manual) require an EASA authorisation?
EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) does not issue a specific authorisation to AMM translators. On the other hand, the regulation EASA Part M and EASA Part 145requires that all airworthiness documentation be precise and not ambiguous. The approved maintenance organisations (AMO) and the air operators are responsible for the quality of the translations they use. In practice, AMM translators must master the structure ATA iSpec 2200 or S1000D, the technical aeronautical vocabulary (component nomenclature, lockout procedures, levels of documentary revision) and the requirements of traceability. A deficient AMM translation can lead to an discrepancy during an EASA audit or to a non-conformity that can invalidate the Part 145 approval of the organisation.
What is the difference between technical translation and patent translation for an imec document?
The distinction is important on the legal and operational level. The technical translation of an imec document (research report, process specification, publication) aims to make the content accessible and understandable in the target language. It has no legal value of its own and is used for internal communication, industrial partnerships, or publications. The patent translation is a radically different exercise: each word of the claims has a precise legal scope and delimits the extent of the protection. The patent translator must not only master the technology, but also the legal language of the patent claims in the target country. For the patents imec filed via KU Leuven LRD, both types of translation may be necessary: technical translation for the industrial partners, certified patent translation for the national filings within the PCT framework. We offer both, with separate translators and quality processes adapted to each type.