KU Leuven and TU Eindhoven have signed a collaboration agreement in Leuven in the field of semiconductor technology, focused on joint education and research.
The goal is to connect and strengthen the knowledge and innovation in semiconductor technology ecosystems around Eindhoven and Leuven in collaboration with ASML and IMEC, amongst others.
In doing so, the parties are contributing to the European Chips Act and the Dutch strengthening plan for the microchip sector.
The next generation of semiconductor technology experts
As part of the agreement, the two universities committed to the shared training of jointly funded PhD students to enable them to become top semiconductor technology experts.
These PhD students will conduct research in areas relevant to semiconductors, including AI, mechatronics, software development, materials science, plasma physics, microchip technology and optics.
The universities are also establishing a seed fund to explore new research paths and will seek opportunities to attract external research funding.
In addition, KU Leuven and TU/e plan to establish joint master tracks in areas such as optics, photonics, quantum technology, semiconductor engineering and high-tech systems engineering, with exchanges of both students and researchers between the two institutions.
In addition, a summer school will be held each year exclusively for 100 top students worldwide in areas relevant to semiconductor technology. The Summer School will be organized with industrial partners.
An important milestone in the chip technology sector
The universities will closely involve IMEC and ASML in the collaboration and are investigating which other parties can be involved.
Together, the universities will invest at least €4m, which will most likely increase through the acquisition of additional funds and the possible creation of new courses.
TU/e Rector Silvia Lenaerts commented: “As top institutions in the field of semiconductor technology, each embedded in our own regional knowledge and innovation ecosystem, we complement one another perfectly.
“Europe faces a considerable challenge in gaining a better position in the global semiconductor sector.
“This is crucial to our strategic autonomy, to our earning power and to the solving of societal challenges. This collaboration is a highly important step in that regard.”
Rector Luc Sels of KU Leuven expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: “I am very happy that we can build on our trust-based relationship, geographical proximity, and existing collaborations with TU/e to further position our interconnected regions as an important backbone of the European semiconductor landscape.”
