The study programs focus on the development and production of sustainable and energy-efficient microchips. Unite! partners involved in the project include TU Graz, PoliTo, TUDa, UPC, Grenoble INP-UGA, and ULisboa.
The European Chip Act aims to elevate the European semiconductor industry by investing several billion euros in the construction of new semiconductor production facilities, including in Germany, Poland, and Italy. To operate these new, technologically advanced facilities, a large number of engineers and technicians are needed, although it is currently unclear where they will come from. The electronics sector already faces a shortage of qualified personnel – Austria alone needs an additional 14,000 qualified workers, with estimates across Europe ranging from 60,000 to 150,000.
To address the shortage of qualified workers, seven European universities have joined forces with eight industry and research partners under the “GreenChips-EDU” project. Together, they aim to accelerate the training of qualified professionals in the field of microelectronics. The European Commission is funding the four-year project with 7.15 million euros, and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency is adding another 750,000 euros. “In the past, production costs were a decisive factor in the location of semiconductor manufacturing facilities,” says project leader Bernd Deutschmann, director of the Institute of Electronics at TU Graz.
“Today, microchips are being developed and built where qualified workers are available. Thanks to GreenChips-EDU, European universities are joining forces for the first time to develop joint teaching programs in electrical engineering and microelectronics to train the necessary specialists in the best possible way.”
Project leader Bernd Deutschmann, director of the Institute of Electronics at TU Graz.
University programs focus on the development and production of sustainable and energy-efficient microchips, as energy-efficient microchips are essential to achieve climate goals in Europe. According to Bernd Deutschmann, particular emphasis is placed on the field of power electronics: “This is an area where Europe is an international leader and has a high demand for personnel, which we want to train young people for.” Internationally harmonized university programs facilitate the cross-border recognition of academic achievements and promote student mobility. “GreenChips-EDU also demonstrates the importance of international university alliances. Graz University of Technology is part of the European University Alliance Unite!, as are several partners of the GreenChips-EDU project. A good network of contacts with excellent partners from the worlds of science and industry is primarily what enables the implementation of such a project,” says Andrea Höglinger, Vice-Rector for Research at TU Graz.
“Our goal is for 600 students to complete bachelor’s or master’s degrees during the four-year project period,” says Bernd Deutschmann. Bachelor’s and master’s programs need to be maintained after the project period ends. In addition to the GreenChips-EDU study programs, further and higher education programs for industry professionals are being developed – from short workshops to microcredits and MBA programs.
In addition to universities, associations, and a research institute, GreenChips-EDU involves six companies, including Infineon Technologies Austria and Končar from Croatia. Industry partners engage, among other things, through the implementation of didactic tasks and collaboration on master’s theses. More information is available on the Unite! website.
