ASML and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) have signed an agreement to invest USD 195 million in semiconductor research in the Brainport region of the Netherlands. They will conduct joint research and train more PhD students in plasma physics, mechatronics, optics, and AI based on common roadmaps. 

In close collaboration between the two parties, almost a hundred PhD students will conduct research in areas relevant to the chip sector over the next ten years. This is a win-win: on the one hand, it provides groundbreaking new knowledge and technology that contributes to solutions for society and Dutch earning capacity, and on the other hand, PhD students are trained to become the top specialists that the semiconductor industry desperately needs. 

In addition, ASML will support Eindhoven University financially in building a new data center cleanroom building. This lab building will be a top facility focused on research, education, and startups in semiconductors. It will be larger and more modern than the existing Eindhoven University cleanroom.

TU/e is also investing heavily in Semicon, with an expected total of more than USD 100 million for the cleanroom building and the many PhD students who will be appointed. The parties will also collaborate with other companies and institutions in the region and beyond to increase its impact.  

Roger Dassen, Chief Financial Officer of ASML, said, “With this agreement, we are expanding our long-term collaboration with TU/e. TU/e is the purveyor of talent in the region and an important academic partner. The collaboration will increase the availability of PhDs, which our industry has a strong need for, and will provide scientific insights that are relevant to the chip industry and society. With this agreement we are investing in science in the Netherlands and in training experts.”

Reasons for the Collaboration

The collaboration between ASML and TU/e aligns with Project Beethoven's goals. The goal of this project, which receives funding from national, regional, and business organizations, is to expand the Dutch semiconductor market. In terms of 'talent,' Beethoven's focus includes strengthening relevant education and scientific research. 

With its recently launched Future Chips flagship, TU/e is placing extra emphasis on semiconductors. The university has been conducting leading international research in various areas of chip technology for more than fifty years. More than seven hundred TU/e researchers from 25 research groups are working on semiconductors, which is expected to grow considerably.

Project Beethoven

In ‘Project Beethoven’, the Dutch government and regional authorities have worked out a substantial package of measures for education, knowledge and spatial infrastructure, amounting to USD 2.72 billion in total. The measures are intended to strengthen the Dutch chip industry and support the further growth of activities in the Brainport Eindhoven hub. The package includes investment in vocational and professional talent, sufficient space, good accessibility and affordable housing in the Brainport Eindhoven area. The government will also strive for a level playing field internationally and for better European coordination to develop the Dutch semiconductor industry.

Read: Zoho to Invest $700 Million in Semiconductor Manufacturing in India

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