ASML and IMEC Forge Strategic Alliance with Top Universities
Eindhoven, Wednesday, 3 July 2024.
Chip giant ASML and research partner IMEC are strengthening ties with KU Leuven and TU Eindhoven to advance microchip engineering. This collaboration aims to bolster research, education, and innovation in semiconductor technology, reinforcing Europe’s position in the global chip industry.
A Strategic Collaboration in Semiconductor Technology
The collaboration between ASML, IMEC, KU Leuven, and TU Eindhoven focuses on enhancing research and educational initiatives in microchip engineering. This partnership aims to create a robust ecosystem for semiconductor technology, contributing to the European Chips Act, which fosters talent and knowledge development in this critical field. The agreement includes a jointly funded program for doctoral candidates, aiming to train the next generation of experts who will drive breakthroughs in semiconductor research.
Focus Areas and Technological Advancements
The collaboration will concentrate on several key areas, including AI technology, mechatronics, software development, new materials research, plasma physics, heterogeneous integration, and optics. These focus areas are crucial for advancing semiconductor technology and align with the objectives of the European Chips Act. The partnership will also establish joint master’s programs in optics, photonics, quantum technology, semiconductor engineering, and high-tech system engineering, providing exchange opportunities for students and staff between the institutions.
High NA EUV Lithography Lab
A significant aspect of this collaboration is the creation of the High NA EUV Lithography Lab, a joint effort by ASML and IMEC in Veldhoven. The lab will provide access to the first prototype High NA EUV scanner, supporting chip manufacturers in reducing risks and developing proprietary applications for High NA EUV technology. This lab will act as a virtual extension of IMEC’s cleanroom in Leuven, facilitating seamless integration between the two regions. The initiative aims to improve yield, reduce cycle time, and decrease CO2 emissions compared to existing EUV systems.
Implications for the Semiconductor Industry
ASML’s CEO, Christophe Fouquet, highlighted the lab’s potential to provide early access to High NA EUV systems for process development, accelerating the learning curve and smoothing the technology’s introduction into mass production. IMEC’s president, Luc Van den hove, emphasized that High NA EUV lithography will play a crucial role in continuing Moore’s Law, enabling the development of more powerful and energy-efficient microchips. The collaboration is set to push the resolution limits of High NA EUV lithography, paving the way for the next generations of DRAM chips and other advanced semiconductor devices.
Strengthening the Brainport and Mindgate Regions
The enhanced cooperation between KU Leuven and TU Eindhoven will strengthen the semiconductor knowledge and innovation ecosystems in the Brainport (Eindhoven) and Mindgate (Leuven) regions. This joint effort is expected to position these interconnected regions as a critical backbone of the European semiconductor landscape. By leveraging their geographical proximity and existing trust-based relationships, the universities aim to make significant contributions to Europe’s competitiveness in the global semiconductor sector.
Bronnen
- www.computable.nl
- www.technishow.nl
- www.eetasia.com
- sciencebusiness.net
- www.metaalmagazine.nl
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