About the ASML Foundation
Our mission, reach, history and leadership structure
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The ASML Foundation is a Dutch charity organization focusing primarily on fostering an inclusive and equitable society for young people in need through various educational programs.
Our mission
The ASML Foundation aims to unlock the potential of young people through education, enabling their inclusion and equal participation in society.
The ASML Foundation believes that all people deserve to receive a quality education, allowing them to be self-sufficient in our increasingly digital world and to be adaptable to a changing labor market.
ASML has a diverse and multicultural workforce. This is reflected in our focus on inclusion and diversity in the projects we support. We are particularly focused on activities that benefit young people from lower socio-economic groups or who are neurodiverse, and women and girls.
ASML is at the forefront of technological developments around the world. These developments are, in turn, creating a more digitalized society. We realize that not everyone can easily keep up with these developments, has access to modern technology, or has the foundational skills needed to make the most of the opportunities technology offers. For this reason, development of digital skills is an important feature of the projects we support.
Our reach
The ASML Foundation supports education projects around the world, focusing on those located in countries in which ASML operates: the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States. We also fund projects in other countries, provided that ASML employees are actively involved or have submitted the application personally.
Projects for which we award funds increase the self-reliance of underrepresented groups by developing their foundational and 21st century skills (communication, cooperation, digital), and by promoting lifelong learning through targeted educational programs. They are executed by recognized local or national organizations, or by external organizations present in the area who have a specific innovative idea for that community. These projects should lead to a measurable improvement in knowledge and opportunities for the participants and their communities, and in turn foster their inclusion and active participation in society.
In 2021, we sponsored 22 projects in eight countries, some directly and some as a co-sponsor. In addition to our financial assistance, ASML employees support our projects by volunteering their time and skills. Since 2002, the ASML Foundation has provided approximately €14 million to more than 425 projects in more than 50 countries.
Our history
The ASML Foundation began as an entity that administered an incentive share program for ASML's management. In the late 1990s, the entity had a surplus of ASML shares that had to remain in the foundation due to stipulations in its bylaws. ASML decided to change the entity’s purpose and transform it into a foundation that could financially support projects and charities.
The ASML Foundation was established as an independent charity (stichting) under Dutch law in December 2001. As of 2007, the Foundation does not maintain ownership of any ASML shares to avoid a conflict of interest.
A distinct, separately managed entity, the ASML Foundation is supported by ASML through an annual contribution of €1 million and the generous use of the company's facilities.
Our structure
The ASML Foundation has a two-tier board structure: the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board. Neither receive salaries from the ASML Foundation for their positions.
The Board of Management oversees the ASML Foundation, defining and maintaining its mission. The Board, which comprises three members, meets regularly to discuss grant applications for funding.
The Supervisory Board supervises and advises the Board of Management in the execution of its tasks, approves the Annual Plan, including the mission and strategy, and sets the annual accounts. It is also composed of three members.
