Electronics companies, engineering firms, high-tech suppliers: all part of the extensive ecosystem surrounding ASML, the Dutch company that develops machines for the production of microchips. A lot of talent is needed to nurture that ecosystem. Including from the Twente manufacturing industry. Paul Goolkate, programme manager at Saxion, gives us an update on Project Beethoven. “We are now truly in the implementation phase, working hard on recruitment, study success and our magnet function.”
When you think of Beethoven, you tend to think of the German composer with his wild hair. And what do you picture when it comes to microchips? Someone in a lab coat, perhaps? In addition to talented scientists, the microchip sector also needs many engineers, programmers and production staff, to name but a few. Just as notes on their own are not enough to make ‘music’, you need a full orchestra to lift a performance to the next level.
Project Beethoven is about that higher plan: developing enough talent to support the Dutch microchip industry in its entirety, specifically the ecosystem surrounding tech giant ASML. Twente is one of the four regions designated for this mission by the government. “We are a very important region for the manufacturing industry,” says Paul Goolkate. “This is why we have been allocated 17% of the total funds. In comparison, ‘Brainport Region Eindhoven’, where ASML is located, gets 63%. In addition, you have two smaller regions: the South Holland region around Delft, and the northern region around Groningen. They get 10% and 7% respectively.”
Much more technical talent for industry in Twente. Simply put, that is what Project Beethoven means to us. Twelve study programmes at Saxion have been identified that should contribute to this.
Twente-based manufacturers
450 million euros is being made available for talent development in Project Beethoven up to 2030, which should generate more than 1,600 additional engineering students. After 2030, €80 million per year will be invested structurally in talent development. The distribution key for the allocation of funds has been determined on the basis of the number of jobs in the supply chain to ASML. Simply put, this means the number of people who work directly or indirectly for the microchip sector were looked at per region.
A well-known example of an employer in the Twente manufacturing industry is Demcon, where technological solutions are developed for further optimisation of the semiconductor industry. Paul: “Regional companies like Demcon, VDL and NTS Norma play a crucial role. ASML works with ‘tiers’. As a company in the supply chain, you are either in the direct tier, or you are a supplier in the indirect tier. In the latter case, you supply the companies in the direct tier.”
Such as Twente-based manufacturers. They appear to be indispensable for the ‘tiers’ surrounding ASML. Although the Twente region traditionally has a strong manufacturing industry, it is still a challenge these days to find enough talent. “Much more technical talent for industry in Twente,” Paul responds. “Simply put, that is what Project Beethoven means to us. Twelve study programmes at Saxion have been identified that should contribute to this. So we want to have more students for these study programmes. You should not only think of bachelor’s, ADs and master’s degrees, but also Lifelong learning. We are tackling this challenge together with the UT, ROC Twente and training centres such as SMEOT.”
Beethoven focuses on prospective students who have to choose further study in a year’s time; to be able to offer them an inspiring time studying at the study programme, research group and profession field that leads to a good job in the region.
Choosing for technology
Why is it such a challenge to find technical talent? It's a complex question, Paul points out: “There are many aspects involved that we have no influence on. What we do have an influence on is how our study programmes present themselves. In addition, it is very important that people get to know the beauty of technology at an early age.”
Does Project Beethoven already target primary school children? “Definitely not,” Paul says. “This concerns a fund that is intended to provide a short-term boost. The government also acknowledges that interest in technology needs to be aroused at an early age, but there are other initiatives, such as Techkwadraat, that are there to do this. Beethoven focuses on prospective students who have to choose further study in a year’s time; to be able to offer them an inspiring time studying at the study programme, research group and profession field that leads to a good job in the region.”
Role models
In the engineering sector, women are one of the underrepresented groups. For that reason, Project Beethoven started a programme that revolves around female role models; about engineers who show that working in technology is both fun and versatile. Twente Board and Ondernemend Twente (Entrepreneurial Twente) are closely involved in this programme, which literally seeks and finds the role models in the regional manufacturing industry.
When it comes to underrepresented groups, attention is also being paid to neurodiversity, for example. These are individuals who perceive, learn and think differently from the majority of people. In this context, someone with autism – provided that study programmes creates space for this – can grow into an engineer who looks at technological challenges in a unique way. Paul: “If we can show how ‘crazy’ the HBO world is for a neurodiverse person, then we can then look at how such a person can be helped to become a successful student. We are currently exploring what we can do in this area.”
Recruitment
Project Beethoven is looking for technical talent in different groups and in different places. This is why a variety of initiatives are needed to help with recruitment. There is the ‘Oooh Chips!’ campaign, which is being jointly taken up by ROC Twente, Saxion, the UT and Twenteboard. ‘Oooh Chips!’ aims to show prospective students how big the world is behind chip technology. In this way, prospective students should become more aware of all the possibilities offered by the engineering sector, and which study programmes complement these.
All relevant HBO institutions work together with regard to international recruitment strategy. In addition, Saxion still focuses specifically on Germany. In Germany, Paul says, there is a lot of interest in the applied bachelor’s programme offered here. Each target group is looked at individually to try and find potential technical high-flyers.
It also fits really well with the ambition to have a fast-growing high-tech region here. At the same time you have to look for a good balance between work and space.
Semicon Learning Center
Attracting technical talent does not stop with recruitment campaigns. At a later stage, it is also important that the talent in question ends up in the right place. The Semicon Learning Center is being set up with this in mind, a physical meeting place for educational institutions, local government, the business community and (potential) engineering students. “The Semicon Learning Center is already becoming a household name in Twente. In the first two years, we set ourselves the goal of creating a place that you can visit at least at the UT, Saxion and ROC Twente. A place that is also there for Lifelong Learning. We want to look at the topics and challenges you can best pick up at Saxion, or at the UT or at ROC Twente.”
To clarify the latter, each educational institution involved has different areas of technological expertise. For example, where the UT has microscopes that can ‘zoom in’ to a molecular level, the Saxion Applied Nanotechnology research group can look in a cleanroom at the use of a robotic arm to accurately move microchips during the production process. At ROC Twente, we can then look at what practical knowledge and skills are needed to support such a production process.
Connection and balance
In the end, things like the Semicon Learning Center are there primarily for the technical talent of today and the future. Paul: “Two packages we work with are literally about getting students in the right place. The essence of education is that you let people grow in the right place and in a safe environment. This also applies if you have a job, and want extra training or to be retrained. In all this, we want to ensure good progression. We want to make the connection with business, and between all educational institutions. For example, a student preparing for HBO in the free elective space at MBO; you can imagine the same between HBO and a university.”
Paul talks tirelessly about all the initiatives he and his colleagues are working on; despite that chip technology may well still sound like something exotic to many residents in the region. How would he explain the added value of Project Beethoven and something like a Semicon Learning Center to a casual passer-by? “I would particularly highlight the large number of SMEs in the engineering sector. Someone will then see that there is an insanely large chain of suppliers in the microchip sector. They are located in Hengelo, Enschede, Oldenzaal, Haaksbergen; it doesn't really matter where you go in Twente. It also fits really well with the ambition to have a fast-growing high-tech region here. At the same time you have to look for a good balance between work and space. Each to their own, but I also cherish the nature and space we have here.”
Continue building
Ambitions aplenty within Project Beethoven. Among other things in the coming period, Paul wants to look at additional methods to reduce the dropout rate among students in engineering courses. And more broadly? “We already have a good connection with education and research, but that is mainly a bilateral story. What if we could move from that bilateral to the centre of ‘the triangle’; right in the middle of education, research and business? Then it will be even easier to provide students a really cool place, where they will learn everything. We as Saxion, would then not only add value for the students we train, but also for all those technology companies in the region. We supply fine, competent colleagues for them to continue building.”
Photography: Thomas Busschers
Translation: Graeme Cunningham
