A cleanroom tour during the Beethoven Summit

The Beethoven programme aims to deliver tens of thousands of additional technical professionals by 2030. During the recent Beethoven Chip Talent Summit in Delft, attended by more than three hundred representatives from government, education, and industry, it became abundantly clear that no individual institution, company, or region can tackle this challenge alone. The South Holland region received particular praise for the close collaboration between vocational education (MBO), universities of applied sciences (HBO), and research universities (WO), where shared facilities make a real difference.

For THUAS, this challenge involves much more than simply educating additional students. We actively build bridges to the labour market through Lifelong Learning (LLO) initiatives and retraining programmes, especially as the rapid rise of AI is transforming roles and skills across the sector. Moreover, the industry is in urgent need of international talent. Through language and integration programmes, we help these students connect with businesses and successfully find their place in the Dutch labour market.

A unique practical learning environment

Summit participants were given an exclusive look at the new Beethoven cleanroom at our Delft campus. Jeroen Oostinga, Lecturer in Applied Physics and expert in microfabrication, spoke passionately about the facility's development.

"When the cleanroom opened in March, the space was still empty. Now we are building systems using equipment received from TU Delft and acquiring new instruments, including an advanced microscope," says Jeroen.

Setting up and programming the equipment requires time and precision, particularly due to safety requirements and the handling of chemicals. Jeroen expects the cleanroom to be fully and seamlessly integrated into regular educational programmes by September 2027. However, he anticipates that students will begin working with specific installations, such as fume hoods and lithography machines, much sooner, possibly as early as next year.

"We are creating something unique," he emphasises. "Facilities like these are usually only accessible to researchers. Through the Beethoven programme, we are significantly lowering that barrier for HBO and MBO students."

Talent for the entire value chain

Nico Persoon, who manages the cleanroom, sees strong opportunities for universities of applied sciences within the technology ecosystem. "Our students gain hands-on experience with production and assembly processes here, such as working with wafers," he explains. "This enables them to perfectly bridge the gap between practice-oriented education and fundamental research."

Although many people immediately think of tech giant ASML, Nico is particularly focused on collaborating with regional SMEs and suppliers across sectors ranging from aerospace to high-tech horticulture.

"Large multinationals are often constrained by strict confidentiality requirements and a strong focus on master's students. Regional SMEs tend to show far greater commitment and offer our students outstanding opportunities for direct, real-world projects."

The Beethoven Summit and the tour of the Delft facility made one thing clear: THUAS is an indispensable link in the technology sector. We do not merely educate excellent technical professionals; together with businesses and government partners, we are helping to build the foundation of the Dutch economy.