5-minute read - by Kailey Erlich, April 7, 2021
Right now, there are about 40 billion active devices within the artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) – a number that is set to increase to 350 billion devices by 2030. Chances are that many of these devices will be powered by microchips printed using ASML technology. With that kind of growth, the semiconductor industry and the demand for our lithography machines isn’t going away anytime soon.
We depend on future innovators and engineers to carry us through this next generation of technology, so we have to invest in their potential now. It’s why we’re one of many tech companies partnering with universities to create programs, courses and curricula to develop technical talent with the skills needed in the semiconductor industry.
We have a varied mix of collaborations with over 180 universities and schools across the globe. Here’s a deeper look at a few of our research partnerships in the US that have resulted in value to students and ASML alike.
University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Meet the professor: Dr Farhat Beg
Dr Farhat Beg is the director of the Center of Energy Research (CER), the High-Energy Density Physics (HEDP) Group, and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. In spring 2020, his students participated in the first-ever virtual course on EUV lithography. Through providing lectures within the course, we help deepen Dr Beg’s understanding of ASML technology while allowing students to uncover the relationship between the semiconductor industry and their university coursework.
ASML and UC San Diego: The first-ever virtual course on EUV lithography
With more than 125 graduate students studying under him across the country, Dr Beg offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in energy research and nuclear fusion, which are highly synergistic technologies with our EUV source development needs.
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About the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) 190 course at UCSD
The course heavily emphasizes ASML’s EUV lithography source. It also features guest appearances from various ASML employees in San Diego who are also UCSD alumni, such as Dr Alexander Schafgans, director of EUV Source Performance at ASML, who demonstrated how our technology impacts the world.
“I did not know anything about photolithography or EUV lithography before taking this course,” shared Brian Lee, a mechanical engineering student at UCSD. “This is the future, and it’s expanding as we speak.”
This is just the beginning of an exciting chapter in our relationship with Dr Beg. A new lab is being built on the UCSD campus, where students will have access to a laser-produced plasma test bench with diagnostics. Once complete, the lab will be a cornerstone of our plan to continue developing the future workforce by providing more hands-on learning experience for UCSD students.
