4 institutions advancing chip technology for the future

Remember when the PlayStation 5 was sold at double its price? Or when the production of EVs was temporarily halted? These were all because of the global chip shortage between 2020 and 2023 that led to a simultaneous increase in demand and decrease in supply. This shortage affected major industries like automotive and consumer electronics, forcing prices to rise and reselling to be the common practice among consumers and manufacturers.

These events only proved once more how important chips are in today’s world. The best universities around the world are well aware of this, racing to provide programmes to prepare students to join or advance their careers in chip technology. From teaching chip design to building more sustainable ones, the universities below are leaders in how chip technology is addressing current challenges and shaping our future:

Source: University of Twente

University of Twente

Did you know your smartphone contains an invention from the University of Twente? Professor Bram Nauta is the mastermind of the Nauta circuit, a smart technique found in the chips in your phone that allows data to be processed more efficiently. This innovative technology is what makes your phone load websites and send photos or videos faster.

As the Dutch chip technology industry is crucial to the European market, holding about 9% of the global market share, you might want to get in on the race since demands for experts are expected to grow. Follow in Professor Nauta’s footsteps and join the university’s master’s programmes in chip technology. Here, you will gain the cutting-edge knowledge and skills needed to design, develop, and optimise advanced chip systems. From smartphones to medical devices to electric vehicles, you will be at the forefront of technological innovation and empowered to make a real difference in a wide range of areas, from AI and medical technology to renewable energy.

One specific programme that covers chip technology is the Master’s in Embedded Systems, where you will design the software and hardware of complex systems found in chipsets, among other devices. Another is the Master’s in Electrical Engineering, where you learn to build chips that are sustainable and energy-efficient through its Integrated Circuit Design and Semiconductor Devices & Technology specialisations. Both English-taught programmes incorporate the latest industry trends into their curriculum and stand out for their strong industry links.

This is evident in the work of LioniX International and QuiX Quantum, two start-up companies birthed by the university itself. As leaders in the photonics field, these companies are proof that the University of Twente is a leader when it comes to inspiring the next generation of experts in chip technology.

“I’m gaining hands-on experience in designing, programming, and testing these systems, and I’m sure this will help me contribute to future innovations once I graduate,” student Ewout says.

Apply to the chip technology master’s programmes now.

The University of Cambridge pushes the boundaries of chip technology. Source: University of Cambridge/Facebook

University of Cambridge

The global market for photonic integrated circuits production is projected to grow by more than 400% in the next 10 years. This is why the University of Cambridge is part of the PIXEurope consortium, a collaboration between research organisations from across Europe with the common goal of developing and manufacturing prototypes of their products based on photonic chips.

If you want to be part of this mission, the university’s Electrical Engineering Division is your answer. Here, you will lead groundbreaking research that advances the field of electrical and electronic engineering and addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The research here is divided into different themes, such as Communications, Pervasive and Intelligent Systems, Functional Nano and Layered Materials, Photonic and Quantum Technologies, Smart Electronics and Surfaces, Devices and Systems for Health, and Multiscale Power and Energy Systems. The last, specifically, focuses on the uses of superconductivity, power electronic devices, and integrated circuits in various applications.

The division also offers an MPhil in Engineering, where you will learn the right research skills and specialist knowledge to either work in industry or academia. Enrolling in this master’s degree will have you spend most of your time on research for your thesis in a group over the next 12 months. During your studies, you will have a few meetings with your supervisor to update them on your progress.

ETH Zürich launched SwissChips to strengthen research collaborations in IC designs, semiconductors, and microelectronics. Source: ETH Zürich/Facebook

ETH Zürich

ETH Zürich‘s contribution to advancing chip design is inspiring. Its SwissChips initiative aims to promote Swiss research and innovation in semiconductors, microelectronics, and integrated circuit (IC) design with the hopes of getting more engineers and researchers to jump into the growing field.

Its Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering is where it all started. Here, there are 19 research laboratories with activities ranging from ICs to computer networks, wireless communications to signal processing, control theory to power electronics, and many more, all pushing the boundaries in electronics and photonics, information and communication, energy, and biomedical engineering and neuroinformatics.

This can be seen in the university’s company spin-offs. With over 500 start-ups under the ETH Zürich name, these small companies are converting research findings into marketable products, thus hastening the process, unlike bigger conglomerates that usually take time to disseminate results.

If you want to be part of the programme, you can enrol in the department’s Master in Information Technology and Electrical Engineering where you can specialise in one of six areas. The Electronics and Photonics specialisation, in particular, covers circuit and IC-design using CAD, a computer-based software to aid in the design of your chip. Other specialisations include Communications, Computers and Networks, Energy and Power Electronics, Signal Processing and Machine Learning, and Systems and Control.

Through the I2I courses and other track-specific courses, students will also develop project definition, project management, and writing/presentation skills which are highly valued in the industry. Source: Purdue University

Purdue University

Purdue University, consistently ranked among the top 10 public universities in the US, boasts a reputation for academic excellence and large-scale impact. With two colleges ranking in the top four nationally and graduating the fifth most STEM majors among its peers, Purdue offers an effective learning environment that emphasises real-world application and industry collaboration.

At the heart of this is the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), the largest academic unit at Purdue and the nation’s premier ECE department. Their innovative project-track master’s programme bridges the gap between theory and practice, preparing students for success in industry or further research.

In 2022, Purdue University became the first in the country to launch the Semiconductor Degrees Program (SDP), a comprehensive set of innovative, interdisciplinary degrees and credentials in semiconductors and microelectronics. These enable a quick ramp-up of skilled talent and create the next generation of semiconductor workforce to reassert American preeminence in this critical industry.

What sets the SDP apart is its six-in-one content: chemicals/materials, tools, design, manufacturing, and packaging. These are all semiconductor industry’s key steps in one interdisciplinary program, plus supply chain management. Another standout feature is its partnerships. The SDP partners with the Department of Defense’s SCALE (Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement) programme, American Semiconductor Academy (ASA), and other Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act workforce consortia. 

Students of all backgrounds can benefit from the SDP programmes, thanks to how flexible they are. There are Master of Science degree, stackable certificates at the postgraduate level, Bachelor of Science minor/concentration; plus, associate degrees through partner Ivy Tech Community College. Delivery can be in person or online, the latter being the first-of-its-kind offering in the US dedicated to semiconductors.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International