The ChipNL Competence Centre is officially launched, a powerful driver for the Dutch semiconductor sector. Companies gain direct access to top European infrastructures such as pilot lines and the EU Chips Design Platform and receive an overview of available facilities and initiatives in our country. This makes it easier for start-ups and smaller companies to invest in semiconductor technology.
As the national hub for the Dutch semiconductor industry, CCCNL connects startups, scale-ups, and SMEs with expertise, talent, and capital, and opens doors to international collaboration.
Vincent Karremans, Minister of Economic Affairs:
By connecting companies, knowledge institutions, and regions, we create better access to talent, facilities, and financing. This gives our chip sector the means to grow faster and structurally strengthen the Dutch economy. The ChipNL Competence Centre demonstrates how powerful our national ecosystem is.
Elly Zwartkruis, managing director ChipNL Competence Centre:
Our goal is to strengthen the Dutch chip sector internationally and at the same time support companies of all sizes in their development. The ChipNL Competence Centre is a place where expertise, entrepreneurship, and innovation come together.
The ChipNL Competence Centre focuses on technological domains where the Netherlands is leading or has great opportunities, such as:
- Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment (lithography, etching, metrology).
- Chip Design for various applications (e.g. automotive, medical technology).
- Heterogeneous Integration & Packaging for powerful, compact systems (AI, 5G, etc.).
- Photonics and Quantum Technology, for example, chips that use light for data processing or advanced sensor technology.
Specifically, the ChipNL Competence Centre focuses on:
- Facilitating access to European pilot lines for testing and validating chip solutions.
- Developing and utilizing an innovative design platform.
- Talent programs to strengthen the required skills in the sector.
- Guidance on financing and leveraging networks and partnerships.
- Increasing the international visibility of Dutch companies and opening doors to new markets.
Partners within the ChipNL Competence Centre are: Brainport Development, ChipTech Twente, High Tech NL, Imec the Netherlands, JePPIX, Oost NL, TNO, BOM and InnovationQuarter.
Funding comes from the European Union and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
With the ChipNL Competence Centre, the Netherlands takes an important step towards a strong and internationally competitive semiconductor sector, which makes an essential contribution to the resilience and innovation capacity of the European chip industry.
