Abstract
Microelectronics is a key enabler for core segments of the EU and Finnish critical industries, including telecom, forestry, retail, healthcare, and logistics. Furthermore, microelectronics is a critical enabler for running applications that use artificial intelligence.
One of the key cornerstones is the ability to design integrated circuits, i.e., ‘chips’ to this market and understand their technological opportunities and constraints when used in the devices, products and services.
Looking towards 2025 onward, this trend continues even stronger owing to the (generative) AI boom: the world’s most valued companies today are microelectronics-based companies working on advances in AI.
Microelectronics is characterized by highly intense R&D, with companies globally reinvesting more than 15% of their revenue into research. Furthermore, research infrastructure costs (both Capex and Opex) are very high, and infrastructure investments are critical to the long-term success of the microelectronics industry. Therefore, a significant R&D&I funding package for the field is needed, and the necessary infrastructure funding should be guaranteed in Finland while leveraging EU Chips Act funding.
The microelectronics industry is highly dependent on skilled workers to ensure innovation and competitiveness. The promotion of microelectronics specialists in relevant fields, such as integrated circuit (IC) design, systems-onchip (SoC), radio frequency (RF) and microelectromechanical components, photonics, quantum technology, and semiconductor physics, through
1) the advancement of females in the field,
2) doctoral education with industry,
3) international student pools (BSc, MSc, DSc),
4) growing expert migration to Finland, are essential tools to prevent the lack of skilled workers from becoming a bottleneck for the industry’s future,
5) increasing Microlectronics studies attractiveness among young talents that study in high-schools, and
6) re-skilling industry-trained DI-level experts in microelectronics.
Developing top-level experts takes a much longer time than developing standard MSc, which is why companies also have a higher role in deeper education in the field. A significant increase in university funding for educational activities is needed, including international BSc programs, industrial doctoral programs, and continuous education beyond an MSc degree.
Currently, the most successful and profitable semiconductor companies invest in their own design capabilities (fabless business models). Most of the high-profit R&D towards products is performed in this way. This implies the design of custom semiconductor chips for specific applications in a company that submits the design for actual chip manufacturing at an external foundry, such as TSMC.
Success will not continue without significant further investments in microelectronics, including
1) education,
2) research,
3) special R&D&I funding programs, and
4) a continuous strategy and investment model.
5) These actions need to be implemented holistically at national and EU levels so that they
6) enable maximal international impact.
In addition, flexible and motivating legal and business conditions must be created to attract specialized microelectronics companies and manufacturers with dedicated R&D to invest in Finland.
One of the key cornerstones is the ability to design integrated circuits, i.e., ‘chips’ to this market and understand their technological opportunities and constraints when used in the devices, products and services.
Looking towards 2025 onward, this trend continues even stronger owing to the (generative) AI boom: the world’s most valued companies today are microelectronics-based companies working on advances in AI.
Microelectronics is characterized by highly intense R&D, with companies globally reinvesting more than 15% of their revenue into research. Furthermore, research infrastructure costs (both Capex and Opex) are very high, and infrastructure investments are critical to the long-term success of the microelectronics industry. Therefore, a significant R&D&I funding package for the field is needed, and the necessary infrastructure funding should be guaranteed in Finland while leveraging EU Chips Act funding.
The microelectronics industry is highly dependent on skilled workers to ensure innovation and competitiveness. The promotion of microelectronics specialists in relevant fields, such as integrated circuit (IC) design, systems-onchip (SoC), radio frequency (RF) and microelectromechanical components, photonics, quantum technology, and semiconductor physics, through
1) the advancement of females in the field,
2) doctoral education with industry,
3) international student pools (BSc, MSc, DSc),
4) growing expert migration to Finland, are essential tools to prevent the lack of skilled workers from becoming a bottleneck for the industry’s future,
5) increasing Microlectronics studies attractiveness among young talents that study in high-schools, and
6) re-skilling industry-trained DI-level experts in microelectronics.
Developing top-level experts takes a much longer time than developing standard MSc, which is why companies also have a higher role in deeper education in the field. A significant increase in university funding for educational activities is needed, including international BSc programs, industrial doctoral programs, and continuous education beyond an MSc degree.
Currently, the most successful and profitable semiconductor companies invest in their own design capabilities (fabless business models). Most of the high-profit R&D towards products is performed in this way. This implies the design of custom semiconductor chips for specific applications in a company that submits the design for actual chip manufacturing at an external foundry, such as TSMC.
Success will not continue without significant further investments in microelectronics, including
1) education,
2) research,
3) special R&D&I funding programs, and
4) a continuous strategy and investment model.
5) These actions need to be implemented holistically at national and EU levels so that they
6) enable maximal international impact.
In addition, flexible and motivating legal and business conditions must be created to attract specialized microelectronics companies and manufacturers with dedicated R&D to invest in Finland.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Oulun yliopisto |
| Number of pages | 49 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-952-62-4366-5 |
| Publication status | Published - 4 Feb 2025 |
| MoE publication type | D4 Published development or research report or study |
