ASML invests 80 million euros in research at TU Eindhoven

Chip machine maker ASML will invest 80 million euros in research at Eindhoven University of Technology over the next ten years. The money will go to PhD research in physics, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). The university and the tech company will also conduct research together.

TU Eindhoven speaks of a win-win situation. According to the university, ASML's investment can yield "groundbreaking" new knowledge that is socially and economically important. The chip machine maker from neighboring Veldhoven itself would benefit from all PhD students being trained to become "top specialists" needed in the chip sector.

ASML is also contributing to constructing a new 'clean room,' a research area where even the smallest dust particles are purified from the air to prevent contamination of research material. TU Eindhoven itself is expected to invest more than 100 million euros in the cleanroom building and the appointment of new PhD students.

"We are investing in science and training experts in the Netherlands," says Roger Dassen, chief financial officer of ASML. Robert-Jan Smits, chairman of the university's Executive Board, is "proud that we are giving an enormous boost to the strong collaboration we have had for decades."

At the end of last year, the recently resigned ASML CEO Peter Wennink sounded the alarm about the business climate for tech companies in the Netherlands. According to him, if this were to deteriorate, it would put pressure on the future earning capacity of the Netherlands.

The outgoing Cabinet then set up 'Project Beethoven' to encourage the chip machine manufacturer to continue growing in the Netherlands. Together with the Eindhoven region, the Cabinet pledged 2.5 billion euros to strengthen the semiconductor sector in North Brabant. The extensive collaboration between ASML and TU Eindhoven should also contribute to this, according to the university.