Nothing works anymore without a chip!
Semicon is high on the agenda in the Brainport region. But what exactly is semicon, and what is happening in the region in relation to this topic? For many people, it is still a world away from their daily lives. What began as a ‘difficult-to-understand industry’ evolved, for Astrid van Deelen and Naomie Verstraeten, into a world full of innovation, collaboration and human stories. Through Brainport Development, they are closely involved in the industry-wide Semicon programme.
“When we talk to our colleagues, it turns out that many people don’t actually know what ‘semicon’ means,” says Astrid van Deelen (43). Naomie Verstraeten (50) adds, “Incidentally, this doesn’t just apply to our colleagues, but to a great many people.” So, at the start of this interview, let’s just clarify the term. ‘Semicon’ refers to the semiconductor industry. This comprises the manufacturers of semiconductors for electronic chips, their supply chain, and research institutes and educational establishments that design and develop new chips.
“And then, of course, comes the question of what semiconductors, or chips, actually are.” Van Deelen likes to refer to an enlightening video from Het Klokhuis. In short, it boils down to the fact that a chip is a mini electrical circuit that can control all sorts of things. This happens in three phases: sensing, thinking and taking action, in that order. The video illustrates this using a car’s windscreen wipers: the chip detects that it is raining, thinks about what needs to be done (turn on the wipers? at what speed?), and takes action: the windscreen wipers turn on.
It is a simple example, but nowadays chips are found in smartphones, calculators, cars, washing machines, medical equipment, and so on… “Chips are getting smaller and smaller and can solve increasingly complex problems. The Netherlands plays a key role in this development. 68% of jobs in the Dutch semiconductor industry are located at more than 100 companies in the Brainport region! In recent years, the semiconductor industry has grown into an ‘Industry of Industries’, what used to be called a basic industry. “In fact, it is no longer possible to imagine a device without a chip,” says Verstraeten.
A right to play
At Brainport Development, Van Deelen and Verstraeten are the go-to people for their colleagues when it comes to semiconductors. It forms the link between their two teams, which is why they have already given a number of presentations on the subject. When asked about their motivations, there is a brief pause: both have long been involved in economic development and the technological DNA of the region, of which semiconductors have traditionally been a part, to the extent that they have almost become inseparable from it, each in their own field of expertise. And, as is often the case with subjects you delve into, the more you know about them, the more enjoyable and interesting they become – and that is, of course, a very legitimate motivation.
Van Deelen, from Eindhoven, who graduated with a degree in economic geography, heads the Education & Labour Market team at Brainport Development. Verstraeten, who was born and raised in Suriname, moved to Brabant at the age of eighteen to study fiscal economics and policy & organisational sciences. She heads the Innovation & Technology team at Brainport Development.
Whilst Astrid sets the direction for education and the labour market, Naomie ensures that the innovation agenda aligns with what businesses really need. “We learn from each other,” says Naomie. “Astrid looks at things through the lens of talent, I look at them through the lens of technology, and somewhere in the middle, the magic happens.”
In 2022, Verstraeten conducted extensive research into the Dutch semiconductor industry, also examining the Netherlands’ role within Europe. The European semiconductor sector is striving for the greatest possible autonomy: the COVID-19 crisis and global political tensions have once again highlighted how important independence is in this area.
“The Netherlands has, as you put it, a right to play, particularly the Brainport region,” said Verstraeten. “But that doesn’t mean the Netherlands needs to have the entire semiconductor production chain in-house. There are three areas in which the Netherlands excels and has a significant lead over its neighbouring countries, namely chip design (think of NXP, Axellera AI), equipment, or the manufacture of machines to produce chips (think of ASML); and thirdly, packaging, which involves packaging multiple small chips into a single smart package so that the chips can communicate with other components in a device (think of Fonontech, Neways). These three areas of expertise are very well represented in our Brainport region. No fewer than seventy companies! That is unique, and we can certainly be proud of it”.
“The production of chips themselves, however, is less developed here. The question is, of course, whether you should even want that in a small and densely populated country like the Netherlands: the production of large volumes of chips requires a lot of space and energy. There are, however, a few companies in the Netherlands that produce advanced chips, such as the photonic chips from Smart Photonics. Given the geopolitical developments, the European context is important to us; this is partly why we coordinated the content of the application for the Dutch Chip Competence Centre (CCCNL) and submitted it to the European Commission on behalf of seven national partners. In 2023, the EU Chips Act – the European legislative package through which the EU aims to strengthen its semiconductor industry – came into force. This made subsidies available for chip factories, innovation, pilot plants and the European Chip Competence Centres. Every EU country has a Chip Competence Centre; the aim is to create a one-stop shop for all Dutch companies, as well as coordination and collaboration between the various Chip Competence Centres across Europe to share knowledge – a unique collaboration!”
The CCCs identify which competencies are present in the various European countries and how these can be aligned. The CCCNL in the Netherlands has recently become operational.
Talent
Chip design, equipment and packaging: Astrid emphasises how important talent is for developments in the semiconductor sector. The European semiconductor industry is expected to grow enormously in the coming years. “Our Competence Centre is constantly on the lookout for talent. Without talent, you can’t get anything off the ground.”
Van Deelen talks about the Microchip Talent Strengthening Plan, known more widely as ‘Beethoven’. “Project Beethoven refers to a large-scale investment programme by the Dutch government and the Brainport region, which was launched in 2024 with the aim of strengthening the microchip industry and improving quality of life. It is estimated that around 26,000 people will be needed in the Brainport region in the coming years to support growth in the semiconductor sector.”
Van Deelen: “Over the next six years, educational institutions will be working hard to ensure that around 5,000 additional graduates with a semicon-related qualification enter the labour market. This includes students at all levels: vocational, higher vocational and university. International students also form an important target group in this regard. The task is so vast that we cannot achieve this as a region alone; we are working closely with educational institutions beyond the borders of the Brainport region.
The semiconductor sector is subject to rapid change, which is why it is essential to keep up to date. Lifelong learning is crucial. In that context, we are also looking at what further training and reskilling can mean for us. Together with various stakeholders, we are working on the Brainport Academy, a platform where supply and demand for reskilling and further training in the semicon sector can come together. The target group is diverse, ranging from asylum seekers and people on social security benefits to professionals in the semicon sector. All talent is welcome!”
Another important point is, of course, the demand from the semiconductor companies themselves: what kind of trained staff do they need, and how can educational institutions meet that need?
“Even though it’s all about systems, machines and chips, it’s still people’s work!”, concludes Naomie with a smile. “It’s people working together, learning, making mistakes and trying again – that’s what the semiconductor industry is all about. Furthermore, the interdependence between companies is significant and will only grow. That is why collaboration and initiatives to coordinate this, such as the ChipNL Innovation Programme and the ChipNL Competence Centre, are of great importance. And the best part is: we’re doing it together, as a region. That’s what makes Brainport unique.”