The Industry Strategy Symposium in Sopot is approaching rapidly. Representatives from SEMI – the global organization uniting semiconductor manufacturers – visited Tricity to discuss workforce education for the industry with regional representatives.
Preparations for the largest semiconductor sector symposium in Europe (March 12-14, 2025) are gaining momentum. Laith Altimime and Cassandra Melvin from SEMI met with the authorities of Sopot and representatives from Gdańsk University of Technology, Polish Naval Academy, and Gdynia Maritime University. The discussions focused on the schools’ involvement in SEMI initiatives, including the Talent Forum.
Education and Awareness
SEMI Europe runs several initiatives to raise awareness of the semiconductor industry ecosystem among the youth and young adults. One such initiative is the ChipQuest Challenge, a competition for high school and university students tasked with creating videos that introduce the world of microelectronics to younger audiences. The most talented graduates have the opportunity to present their research at the SEMICON Europa fair. Each year, a group of the most outstanding future creators is selected: 20Under30. During the last edition, a Polish national, Mariusz Grabowski, was included in this prestigious group.
SEMI’s most comprehensive initiative for years has been the Talent Forum, which will move from Swansea University to Sopot next year. During ISS, students and researchers will have the opportunity to discuss the industry’s challenges and expectations with representatives from companies shaping the European semiconductor industry.
European Chip Skills Academy Summer School is also worth mentioning. It is an intensive EU-funded course showcasing the complexity of the industry ecosystem, the latest trends and technologies, and semiconductor production and design standards. This year, for the first time, five Poles will be among the 40 participants, including two students from Gdańsk University of Technology.
Gdańsk Microelectronics
A key institution in Pomerania for education in the sector is the Department of Microelectronic Systems at Gdańsk University of Technology. Led by Dr. Marek Wójcikowski, the department has been synthesizing, designing, and optimizing microelectronic circuits and systems for the semiconductor industry for years, in collaboration with companies like Synopsys, Cadence, and Intel.
The well-educated graduates of the department are a solution to the industry’s workforce problems. The ambitious goals of the European Chips Act (increasing Europe’s share in the global semiconductor industry from 12 to 20% by 2030) have encouraged investors to implement new projects. Intel is expanding its operations in Ireland, Germany, and Poland, TSMC is opening new facilities and strengthening its collaboration with Infineon, NXP, and Bosch, while technology institutes IMEC, LETI, and Fraunhofer are advancing research on microchips and low-energy consumption methods.
– We see more and more projects emerging in Western Europe that need to address the talent shortage. This opens up opportunities for extensive partnerships for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and – above all – Poland. Our market is not lacking educated and experienced specialists, and I believe we will soon become a serious partner for the massive projects being carried out in Germany – says Mikołaj Trunin, Deputy Director of Invest in Pomerania.
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Transcript of the conversation with Laith Altimime, President of SEMI Europe, and Mikołaj Trunin, Deputy Director of Invest in Pomerania, conducted by Radosław Młynarczyk as part of the Business Un-tied podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6QSzGmorgt5aT085AotC7W
