New Agreement to Expand Joint Research and Training Over Next Decade
Veldhoven, The Netherlands- On Thursday, ASML and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) signed a significant agreement to expand their collaboration over the next ten years. This partnership will focus on joint research and the training of PhD students in key areas such as plasma physics, mechatronics, optics, and artificial intelligence, following common roadmaps. The initiative aims to reinforce the Brainport region’s unique position in the semiconductor field and support TU/e’s Future Chips flagship.
Nearly a hundred PhD students will engage in research relevant to the chip sector, providing groundbreaking knowledge and technology to benefit society and enhance Dutch economic capacity. Simultaneously, these students will be trained to become top specialists needed in the semiconductor industry. This agreement builds on a memorandum of understanding signed by ASML and TU/e last year.
Financial Contributions and Infrastructure Development
ASML will contribute financially to the construction of a new cleanroom building at TU/e, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to research, education, and startups in the semiconductor field. This new facility will be larger and more advanced than the existing cleanroom it will replace.
ASML is investing €80 million in this collaboration over the next decade. TU/e is also making a significant investment, expecting to spend over €100 million on the cleanroom building and the appointment of numerous PhD students. The partnership will involve other companies and institutions to broaden its impact.
Alignment with Project Beethoven
The collaboration aligns with the objectives of Project Beethoven, funded by national and regional authorities and industry, which aims to strengthen the Brainport region and the Netherlands in the semiconductor sector. Project Beethoven focuses on enhancing relevant education and scientific research to create societal solutions and future economic growth.
TU/e’s Commitment to Semiconductor Research
TU/e’s Future Chips flagship underscores its commitment to semiconductor research, an area in which the university has excelled internationally for over fifty years. Currently, more than 700 TU/e researchers from 25 groups are working on semiconductor technologies, with this number expected to grow significantly.
This expanded collaboration between ASML and TU/e represents a strategic investment in the future of semiconductor innovation and education, poised to deliver significant advancements and highly skilled professionals to the industry.