Semiconductor technology

Semiconductor devices, i.e. chips, are essential components for our economy and society. Given the current geopolitical developments, the semiconductor industry has been in the news repeatedly. The semiconductor industry is a truly global high-tech industry, with an intricate supply chain where every region plays a crucial role. Many government programs have been established to support this industry and enhance local resilience and market share. Within the EU, the European Chip Act was established, and within the Netherlands, the Beethoven program. In all these programs, talent development is a crucial component, given the significant projected shortages of skilled high-tech workers.

Within the minor Semiconductor Technology, we aim to educate about the fundamental aspects of the technology that drives the semiconductor industry. The minor is interfaculty, driven by the faculties of Applied Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. The program covers two aspects: the first focuses on understanding the design of critical components of semiconductor equipment (e.g., optics or wafer handling) and selecting the appropriate materials for their construction. The second aspect focuses on the steps required to fabricate a chip in the cleanroom, the materials required for this, and how these steps can be combined to realise different semiconductor devices.

1. Explain the technology driving the semiconductor industry, from equipment to manufacturing
2. Analyse specific sub-systems of semiconductor manufacturing equipment
3. Analyse a manufacturing process for semiconductor devices
4. Design a multi-disciplinary sub-system or semiconductor device

Expected prior knowledge: basic knowledge of programming in Python, knowledge of undergraduate-level algebra, calculus, statistics, and physics.

Courses: lectures, tutorial sessions and (lab) exercises. The assessment will be through exams, presentations, and assignments.
Project: multidisciplinary group design project with report and presentation. Includes lectures on system design