KU Leuven and TU Eindhoven 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 strong semiconductor knowledge and innovation ecosystems around Eindhoven (Brainport) and Leuven (Mindgate) 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 (‘Beethoven’), among other things.
Research and PhD students
In the agreement, the two universities commit to the shared training of jointly funded PhD students to enable them to become top semicon experts. These PhD students will conduct research in areas relevant to semicon, 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.
Education
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 doing so, the collaboration between KU Leuven, IMEC, TU/e and ASML shall provide an extra level of appeal for master’s students. The two universities will also explore the possibility of creating a joint bachelor’s program.
In addition, there will be a Summer School each year, exclusively for 100 top students worldwide in areas relevant to semicon. The Summer School will be organized together with industrial partners.
Four million
The universities will closely involve IMEC and ASML in the collaboration and are investigating which other parties can be involved. TU/e recently signed an extensive collaboration agreement with ASML. Together, the universities will invest at least four million euros, and that amount will most likely increase through the acquisition of additional funds and the possible creation of new courses.
Rector Silvia Lenaerts
“We have high expectations for this collaboration,” says TU/e Rector Silvia Lenaerts. “As top institutions in the field of semicon, 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
Rector Luc Sels of KU Leuven expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: "We speak the same language in so many ways. 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."
Future Chips flagship
TU/e has been active in the field of semiconductor technology for over 50 years. Some 700 TU/e researchers are currently working in this area in the university’s Future Chips flagship. Last year, TU/e signed a memorandum of understanding with KU Leuven and RWTH Aachen on collaboration in the field of AI.
This article was first published on 1 July by TU/e.
Receive the Funding Newswire each Tuesday, our Policy Bulletin each Thursday, and news about bridging Europe’s east-west innovation gap twice a month in The Widening. 
A unique international forum for public research organisations and companies to connect their external engagement with strategic interests around their R&D system.