Image: © University of Twente / Eric Brinkhorst

The King was received by Vinod Subramaniam, the chairman of the Executive Board of the University of Twente, and the scientific and business directors of MESA+ Hans Hilgenkamp and Timo Meinders. The King was given a tour of the MESA+ NanoLab and at the Cleanroom an explanation of current developments and an explanation of the role of the cleanroom in integrated photonics. The King then spoke with students from the ROC van Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences and the UT.

Saxion student Julia Hennink spoke with the King about the Beethoven project aimed at the development of the chip industry. She discussed the different levels of education and the collaboration between them. Julia: “All links are important, but the roles of HBO and especially MBO are undervalued in this, despite the important contribution in the industry.”

Olympic highlights on the nanoscale

PhD student of the UT Femke Witmans talked about the ‘Nanolympics’: a project with the aim of giving nanotechnology a face and making it visible for the Netherlands. “Nanotechnology plays a major role in our society, but often remains invisible, which is why we decided to combine this with the power and energy of the Olympic Games. I found it extra special that we were able to let our King, as a fanatic supporter of TeamNL, relive a number of Olympic highlights, but then on the nanoscale. It shows how impressive and versatile nanotechnology is and I hope that the King experienced it that way too.”

From research to product

Twente develops unique technology for mirrors that ASML uses in their EUV machines. Intensive academic research is conducted here, in close collaboration with the business community. At the XUV Lab, a fascinating explanation of the research into EUV mirrors followed and the crucial importance of Twente research for products was emphasized.

“Twente is among the world leaders in the field of Silicon Nitride Technology and Quantum Photonics and the emerging and promising platform Aluminium Oxide, both in terms of research and business. The triple helix is ​​well developed, which means that all the ingredients are present regionally to actually bring fundamental research to the market. We have built up a good track record in the region and the visit of the King to see this with his own eyes was a wonderful recognition of our regional strength,” says Timo Meinders, Managing Director, MESA+ Institute.

Finally, a short tour took place in innovation centre The Gallery at spin-off companies QuiX Quantum and LioniX to talk about (quantum) photonics. The working visit was concluded with a round table discussion about the developments, opportunities and challenges for the Twente region in the field of photonics and chip technology. And about academic research in collaboration with the business community.

Round table discussion

The statements of this discussion included the collaboration between education, research and the business community. It was discussed that ASML can only grow if Twente grows. Twente companies such as Demcon and VDL-ETG are indispensable for the growth of the large Dutch chip technology companies. The discussion partners went in search of the preconditions.

Wonderful studies were viewed. The discussion was about how we can convert this research into business in integrated photonics. There was unanimous agreement that collaboration between knowledge institutions, government and industry is the key to success in Twente.

“I look back with great satisfaction on the visit of His Majesty the King. It is a recognition of the strength of the Twente ecosystem for photonics and chip technology, and the strength of collaboration in the region, with other knowledge institutions, government and industry. Twente is indispensable for the growth ambitions of the Netherlands in chip technology, and these collaborations play a very important role in this”, Vinod Subramaniam concludes.

Photonics

Photonics is a scientific discipline that focuses on technology based on light (photons). In integrated photonics, light is guided in materials on a chip. This forms the basis for new sensor concepts for medical applications, for example, and for ultra-fast, energy-efficient information technology.