How can Europe strengthen its strategic relevance in the field of semiconductors? Not by striving to do everything ourselves, but by making targeted investments in those parts of the value chain where Europe can make a global difference. That was one of the messages that TU Eindhoven conveyed during its first self-organized European conference in Brussels.
As one of the leading European universities in the field of future chips and high-tech systems, TU/e brought together researchers, administrators, industry, and European policymakers during the symposium 'Connecting Thriving Semicon Innovation Ecosystems'.
Representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, universities, research institutes, and industry, among others, discussed the future of the European semiconductor sector and the scope of the upcoming European Chips Act 2.0.
The power of Brainport
During the conference, representatives of TU/e not only presented their research and expertise, but also emphasized the power of the Brainport ecosystem and the collaboration with partners such as ASML, imec, KU Leuven, UnternehmerTUM, and RWTH Aachen University.
On behalf of the university, the Executive Board, the management team of the Casimir Institute, and a broad delegation of researchers and experts were present. Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem represented Brainport.
During the symposium, which included an administrative lunch, keynotes, and a panel discussion, TU/e emphasized that Europe should focus on strategic relevance rather than full technological autonomy. Europe does not need to control the entire semiconductor value chain, but must take charge in areas on which the rest of the world depends.
That requires making choices. Not only to participate in the global race for ever smaller transistors, which are reaching physical limits and becoming increasingly expensive to develop, but also to build on the technologies and knowledge in which Europe is already strong internationally.
Heterogeneous integration
Heterogeneous integration was mentioned as one of the major strategic opportunities for Europe. Heterogeneous integration brings together different chip technologies, such as computing power, memory, wireless communication, photonics and sensors, in one system or chip module so that they work together optimally.
This will create new applications for smart cars, robots, artificial intelligence, and medical technology, among other things. In this field, European knowledge institutions and companies can take the lead worldwide.
Innovation ecosystems
This requires a different way of working together. The future of the European chip sector lies in innovation ecosystems that reinforce each other across Europe. By improving the connection between regions such as Brainport Eindhoven, Leuven, Munich, and Aachen, research, talent, and innovation can develop faster.
According to rector Silvia Lenaerts , this will lead to more joint groundbreaking innovation, the exchange of researchers and students, and better cooperation between universities, research institutions, and companies aimed at real value creation.
Lenaerts: "Europe will not only become stronger by investing, but also by better connecting our innovation ecosystems. By allowing companies and knowledge institutions to reinforce each other and build strategic value chains, we can already take major steps today."
"We don't have to wait. It is precisely this cooperation that makes Europe more innovative, strategically stronger, and increasingly the place where economic prosperity and high social values come together."
Chairman of the Board Koen Janssen adds, "We have to rely on cooperation. You won't get anywhere alone. By joining forces and pooling knowledge, talent, and innovation, we can build the prosperity of tomorrow and a Europe that remains technologically and strategically relevant."
Casimir Institute
An important role at the symposium was reserved for the Casimir Institute, the TU/e institute for future chips and high-tech systems. Scientific director Bart Smolders sees the symposium as an important step toward strengthening cooperation between the leading European semiconductor regions.
Smolders: "For TU/e and the Casimir Institute, this symposium underlines our ambition to build a single, connected European semiconductor ecosystem together with leading regions such as Munich, Dresden, and Leuven. It shows how important our institute is in stimulating collaboration, so that Europe can translate top scientific research into lasting social and economic impact more quickly."
Chips Act 2.0
The symposium took place at an important time, as the proposal for the Chips Act 2.0 is now being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. In that proposal, the emphasis shifts from production capacity to innovation, talent development, and cooperation between research and industry. This is closely aligned with the ambitions of TU/e and the Casimir Institute to convert scientific knowledge into applications more quickly.
