Together with our fellow partners, we are shaping modern, forward-thinking curricula designed to inspire and engage the next generation of technology students.

In early April 2024, the Technical University of Darmstadt hosted the second meeting of the 15 project partners. The “New Educational Programs for Sustainable Microchips Manufactured in Europe” initiative is designed to train the experts urgently needed in the semiconductor industry, with a focus on sustainable and energy-efficient microchip development — vital for Europe’s climate commitments. 

Our participation, alongside seven universities and one research institute, involves delivering educational programs, sharing our vast experience in R&D and manufacturing, and collaborating on student projects and master’s theses, all to advance the industry and support future talent. The European Chips Act is poised to elevate the continent’s semiconductor industry to new heights, with billions of euros being channeled into the construction of cutting-edge manufacturing facilities. 

Yet, there is a pressing shortage of skilled engineers and technicians to operate these facilities — Austria alone needs 14,000 professionals, while Europe as a whole faces a deficit of 60,000 to 150,000 experts. In response, European universities have teamed up with industry and research institutions to launch the GreenChips-EDU initiative of the next generation of semiconductor experts.

This four-year initiative, launched in October 2023, is supported by a total investment of €14.3 million, with the European Commission contributing €7.15 million and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency providing an additional €750,000. The success of this project is driven by the robust collaboration between top-tier academic and industrial partners.