Twente Secures €20.5 Million for Microchip Talent Development as Part of National Plan

Twente Secures €20.5 Million for Microchip Talent Development as Part of National Plan

(IN BRIEF) The Dutch government has allocated €20.5 million to Twente’s Project Beethoven for 2025-2026 as part of the National Microchip Talent Reinforcement Plan, aiming to increase the number of technical graduates and support the growing microchip sector. Twente’s educational institutions and businesses will collaborate to train more students, targeting 1,640 additional enrollments by 2030 and producing 480 extra graduates annually. While the plan is backed by €72 million overall, further allocations depend on periodic evaluations. Challenges include addressing higher education budget cuts and attracting international talent, both vital for supporting industry leaders like ASML and regional suppliers.

(PRESS RELEASE) ENSCHEDE, 22-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The Dutch government has approved €20.5 million in funding for Twente’s Project Beethoven, part of the National Microchip Talent Reinforcement Plan, for 2025-2026. This initiative aims to strengthen the microchip sector by increasing the number of students pursuing technical studies at vocational (MBO), applied (HBO), and university (WO) levels. A total of €72 million is earmarked for Twente, with further allocations contingent on progress evaluations every two years.

Educational institutions, businesses, and regional partners have collaborated to develop a strategy for training technical talent to meet the growing demand in the microchip industry. By 2030, the program targets an additional 1,640 technical students, resulting in approximately 480 more graduates annually.

While the government supports the plans, challenges remain, such as addressing budget cuts in higher education and the need to attract international students, a key factor highlighted by stakeholders. Twente businesses, including VDL ETG and SMEs, play a critical role in the sector, supporting national leaders like ASML.

The government emphasizes the strategic importance of the microchip industry for the Netherlands’ economy and calls for collaboration between regions to enhance lifelong learning and talent retention.

Media Contact:

L.P.W. van der Velde MSc (Laurens)
Spokesperson Executive Board (EB)
+31 6 1609 6245
l.vandervelde@utwente.nl

SOURCE: University of Twente