Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) today officially opens the Casimir Institute, its new research institute for future chips and high-tech systems. With this step, TU/e aims to reinforce its ambition to become Europe’s leading chip university, while also contributing to the technological sovereignty of the continent. The Casimir Institute brings together three existing TU/e units: the Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute, the High Tech Systems Center and the Future Chips Flagship, into one strong new entity.
The university launched the institute during the Future of Chips event on Tuesday 30 September, with dignitaries including minister Vincent Karremans (Economic Affairs), Eindhoven mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem, representatives of the European Commission and companies ASML, NXP and TSMC.
The research institute brings together over 700 scientists focusing on semiconductors, quantum technology, photonics, advanced materials, high-tech systems and fundamental research. “This integrated approach is unique,” said TU/e Rector Magnificus Silvia Lenaerts. “It enables researchers from different disciplines to connect more quickly, share insights more easily and collaborate across fields more effectively. This way, we can speed up the process of translating knowledge into economic and societal impact.”
European frontrunner
TU/e has been conducting pioneering research into chips for more than fifty years. With the Casimir Institute, the university builds on its key position in the Brainport ecosystem and strengthens its role as an international frontrunner in chip research and development.
Notably, TU/e is developing a new laboratory and cleanroom facility worth 200 million euros, partly supported by ASML, and is working with TNO on a pilot factory for photonic chips at the High Tech Campus. The university also plays a role in various pilots and initiatives arising from the European Commission’s Chips Act adopted in 2023, such as the ChipNL Competence Center and the Europese Chip Design Platform.
TU/e among the world’s best in advanced materials
TU/e is also among the world’s top institutions in research into new materials for chips. Major companies such as Intel, TSMC, ASM and ASML collaborate with the university to tap into its unique expertise. In the cleanrooms, researchers work on layers only a few atoms thick and on promising new materials for chips, such as so-called 2D materials, which may eventually replace traditional silicon.
These initiatives and projects are centrally coordinated or supported by the Casimir Institute, where researchers from existing departments and services, as well as external partners, come together. “Our goal is clear,” says Bart Smolders, Scientific Director of the Casimir Institute. “We want to be the place where the future of chips and high-tech systems is shaped for the Netherlands, for Europe and even the world.”
Strong focus on sustainability
The institute also places strong emphasis on people and the environment. The energy consumption of IT infrastructure (such as AI) is growing rapidly. TU/e therefore seeks ways to make this growth manageable and sustainable. Examples include energy-efficient chips and self-healing materials that last longer, conserving raw materials and reducing waste. The university also focuses on solutions that process personal and sensitive data at the network edge, enabling practical applications without relying on distant data centers.
This article was first published by TU/e.
Receive the Funding Newswire [full access requires a subscription] 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.