Outgoing government (1.7 billion) and the Eindhoven region (almost 800 million) have decided to invest a total of 2.5 billion with the aim of strengthening the chip sector in the Netherlands. Among other things, money has been set aside to improve infrastructure in the Brainport region and for investments around recruiting technical talent for the high-tech semiconductor industry. "This is good news for the region, for the Netherlands and for Europe," said TU/e board chairman Robert-Jan Smits.
The package includes a one-off investment of 450 million euros for technology education, in addition to structural 80 million euros per year. The intention is for MBO institutions, colleges and universities from four regions (Eindhoven, Enschede, Groningen and Delft) to work together with industry, and led by Brainport, on a talent development plan to take the Dutch chip sector to the next level. There is a crying shortage of technical talent in the Brainport region in particular, for which the TU/e together with Fontys and Summa already submitted a proposal eighteen months ago.
National talent plan
Smits: "With this, a big step can be taken to substantially increase the numbers of students in technical disciplines, at mbo, hbo and university. As educational institutions in Brainport, we look forward to working together with partners in the Twente, Groningen and Delft regions to shape the national talent plan. Summa College, Fontys University of Applied Sciences and TU Eindhoven, as court suppliers for the Brainport region, will of course take their responsibility in this."
Chip sector
After all, to enable the digital revolution in the future, chips are needed that can handle the increasing amount of data. Smits: "The Brainport region is one of the world's most relevant semicon ecosystems, with TU Eindhoven playing a pivotal role within it, both in terms of talent and knowledge development and the startup scene. Investing in the chip industry means investing in the future earnings model of the Netherlands and contributing to Europe's sovereignty agenda."
Infrastructure
There is also a government contribution of over 700 million euros for infrastructure projects in the Eindhoven region, such as a better train station and fast bus connections between the centre of Eindhoven and Veldhoven, where ASML is based. On top of that, 350 million euros will come from the region. There is also 425 million reserved for the construction of tens of thousands of homes, including for students, in and around the Brainport region.
Read the letter from the House of Representatives containing the decision here .
Source: TU/e // Photo: brookhaven via Pixabay
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