KU Leuven and TU Eindhoven Strengthen Microchip Engineering Collaboration

KU Leuven and TU Eindhoven (TU/e) have announced a significant partnership to bolster their collaboration in microchip engineering. This agreement will strengthen the position of the Brainport (Eindhoven) and Mindgate (Leuven) regions and will closely involve local industrial semiconductor pioneers ASML and IMEC. This collaboration also marks a pivotal step in light of the European Chips Act, enhancing talent and knowledge development in semiconductor research and education.

The collaboration between KU Leuven and TU/e will be channelled into five strategic areas of action, encompassing both research and educational initiatives.

One of the key components of this initiative is a Jointly Funded Doctoral Candidates Program. Starting in 2024, doctoral candidates will embark on research projects in semiconductor-related fields such as AI, mechatronics, software development, material sciences, plasma physics, heterogeneous integration, and optics. This program is designed to cultivate the next generation of experts who will lead advancements in these cutting-edge areas.

In addition to nurturing doctoral talent, the partnership will also establish a Joint Seed Fund, defining joint research topics and preparing grant proposals. Furthermore, a joint grant facilitator will be appointed to scout additional funding opportunities for both existing and emerging research themes. This role will be crucial in securing the necessary resources to support ongoing and future projects, thereby enhancing the impact of the collaboration.

The educational initiatives under this partnership are equally ambitious. Collaborative efforts are being explored to establish joint Master tracks in fields such as optics, photonics, quantum technology, semiconductor engineering, and high-tech systems engineering. This will also include exchange opportunities between the two institutions for both students and staff.

Additionally, a high-level Summer School will be organized to attract top talent from around the globe to the Leuven-and Eindhoven region, offering an immersive educational experience, closely involving local industrial partners.

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."

'We have high expectations of this collaboration,' says Silvia Lenaerts, Rector of TU/e. 'As renown institutions in the semicon field, both embedded in a regional knowledge and innovation ecosystem, we complement each other perfectly. Europe is facing the challenge of gaining a better position in the worldwide semiconductor field. This will be crucial for our strategic autonomy, for our economic development, and as an answer to social challenges. This collaboration is an important step in this context.'

For KU Leuven, this partnership is part of a broader strategy to connect and grow its knowledge and innovation ecosystems across regional and national borders. In 2023, KU Leuven also signed a memorandum of understanding with TU/e and RWTH Aachen to advance AI research and education in the Three-Border-Region between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.