skills4chips—The talent factory for a future industry

The Microtec Academy will be expanded to form a national educational academy for microelectronics and microsystems technology

Microelectronics has long been an essential part of our lives. Countless small and large everyday devices have a beating heart made of silicon and other semiconductors. And while Germany plays a leading role in high-performance and optoelectronics, sensors, and security microcontrollers, most chips are still produced in Asia. The EU is determined to change this.

“With the Chips Act, the EU aims to significantly increase its market share of global chip production, hence expanding local semiconductor production capacities here,” explains Anja Quednau of Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH). "But that won’t work without skilled workers," she says. “That’s why the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has launched the skills4chips project.” The goal of this nationwide flagship project is to consolidate existing local and regional initiatives focused on skilled workers for the microelectronics sector. Additionally, new offerings will be introduced that are tailored specifically to the needs of industry and research. The FBH in Adlershof is coordinating the project.

“We had a predecessor project over the last four years that focused on making vocational education in micro- and nanotechnology more attractive,” says the project leader. “The aim was twofold: to inspire more young people to pursue such a career path and to improve the sector’s vocational and further training.” The results were impressive. A nationwide network of cooperation was created—the Microtec Academy—which has qualified nearly 2,000 individuals through vocational, further, or advanced training. The skills4chips project is now building on this success but with much grander aspirations. The Microtec Academy will be expanded to form a national educational academy for microelectronics and microsystems technology, encompassing not only vocational education but also academic education—from bachelor’s and master’s degrees to highly specialised advanced training at the academic level.

The skills4chips project launched in November 2024 and is set to run for four years. To do so, it is supported by a 12.1 million euro grant from the BMBF. In addition to FBH, the partners include RBZ Steinburg, the competence and cooperation network microTEC Südwest e. V., IVAM Microtechnology Network, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Technical University Braunschweig, and the University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern. They are supported by so-called network partners, including Silicon Saxony, Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology (IISB), and Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS).

One of the main challenges the initiative faces is the issue of visibility of the microelectronics industry as an employer. “Of course, microchips are part of billions of everyday devices like smartphones. But they’re so tiny that most people don’t even notice them,” says Anja Quednau. “And, unfortunately, this also impacts the visibility of microelectronics occupations in society.” Coordinating vocational training nationwide and simultaneously making it more attractive and better known is therefore a central task for skills4chips.

And this is where the Microtec Academy comes into play, aiming to establish itself as a one-stop-shop for microelectronics qualifications. Through a modern online learning platform, various providers will make their offerings available both online and in person. Practical courses in labs and clean rooms play a major role, as micro- and nanotechnology rely on high-tech equipment. Working with this is essential for any comprehensive training—basic or advanced. However, not every company, vocational school, or university has all of these facilities on-site. “That’s why it’s part of our project to organise courses at the few central training locations that can be taken by people from all over the country,” says Anja Quednau. At the same time, the next level of training is already being worked on. “A major project is the development of a virtual technology lab,” she reveals. “This will allow for the most advanced equipment and clean rooms to be explored in virtual reality. Future microtechnologists will thus be able to build their expertise without interfering with ongoing production.”

Kai Dürfeld for Adlershof Journal

• Microtec Academy | Ferdinand-Braun-Institut