Breaking news ground in microelectronics: Symposium discusses key technology

Microelectronics is at the core of modern technologies - from high-performance processors and sensors to applications in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. With cutting-edge research, scientists at the Center of Micro- and Nanotechnologies (ZMN) at TU Ilmenau have been working on driving these innovtaions forward and making the excellent equipment at the core facility and in one of the largest university clean rooms in Europe available to other universities, research institutions and partners in industry. Together with 17 other universities in Germany, the university is also part of the ForLab network. The aim of the university network for semiconductor technology and microelectronics is to expand cooperation structures nationwide and simplify access to cleanrooms for SMEs, start-ups and research groups in particular.

Pooling expertise

In workshops with industry representatives, the ForLab partners identified needs for future developments, discussed opportunities for accelerated technology transfer through shared infrastructure and pooling of expertise and discussed social trends in the context of the chip industry and in times of upheaval. Among other things, doctoral students from the Ilmenau School of Green Electronics presented innovative approaches for information technology that is sustainable and climate-neutral not only in operation, but also along the entire value chain and in the entire material cycle.

Other workshops and presentations focused primarily on the challenges of promoting young talent and securing skilled workers for the semiconductor industry, which the ForLab-NataliE project is addressing with TU Ilmenau as one of three project partners alongside Technische Universität Dresden as network coordinator and Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Among other things, the development of an information platform on available equipment, research and technology profiles at universities was discussed. Furthermore, Uta Voigt from the High Technology Education and Training Network at the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut in Berlin presented the BMBF flagship project skills4chips, one of many examples of best practice for attracting students and integrating international students into the job market:

We need to succeed in raising awareness of the industry in the minds of young people and society as a whole and highlight career options.

Other initiatives discussed included the "International Engineers for Thuringia" project and the orientation program for engineering students at TU Ilmenau.

Shaping social change together

On the second day of the symposium, representatives from industry and academia discussed how to turn top alumni into top professionals. The panel discussion with Felix Aßmann (Bosch Sensortec), Sven Beyer (GlobalFoundries), Uwe Gäbler (Infineon), Martin Hoffmann (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) and Joanna Pawlaczek (Thüringer Agentur für Fachkräftegewinnung, LEG Thüringen) focused on strategies for better coordination between universities and industry in order to optimize the transition from university to companies. Despite differing views on topics such as practice-oriented training and adapting course content to industrial requirements, it quickly became clear that close cooperation between academic institutions and industry is essential for securing the next generation of skilled workers in microelectronics.

In addition to such new strategies, new visions for a sustainable future in Germany as well as in Europe as a whole are also needed, said Klaus Burmeister from foresightlab in his closing speech. To achieve this, all social camps must be prepared to break new ground: "My greatest hope is the European Union." The AI Actio Summit in Paris, he said, was already a good sign.

"We have to leave our comfort zone," concluded host Prof. Jens Müller, Vice President for International Affairs and Transfer at TU Ilmenau, at the closing of the event. The open exchange of viewpoints and expectations at the symposium was a good basis for even closer cooperation in the future, both within the ForLab network and with national and European training initiatives such as the Microelectronics Academy of the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD) and industry:

We can all only learn from each other.

Breaking new ground without abandoning the tried and tested in order to help shape social change: Prof. Martin Hofmann from Ruhr University Bochum - the host university of the 2026 ForLab symposium - concluded with an invitation to do just that.