Given the growing demand for electronic engineers specialized in semiconductors in Europe and the lack of qualified professionals in this field, four universities and a scientific institute, a reference center in microelectronic technologies, have come together to create a master’s degree in Semiconductor Engineering and Microelectronic Design which will be implemented in the new 2024-2025 academic year. This is the UPC, whose telecommunications school will coordinate the master’s degree, the UB, the UAB and the URV, together with the Barcelona Institute of Microelectronics (IMB-CNM-CSIC).

The need for specialized engineers is urgent, according to the Department of Research and Universities, which has highlighted in a statement the “urgent need to train professionals in this field, due to the recent chip crisis.”

Europe wants to protect its technological and economic sovereignty, which was impacted by the global chip shortage since the pandemic and in the last three years in which the industry has experienced a crisis in demand for integrated circuits (commonly known as semiconductor chips). with price increases, product shortages and prolonged waiting times. The impact of this crisis has taken its toll on the automobile, computer and other products sector.

Semiconductor and microelectronics technology is essential in the industry since it is the basis of electronic devices that make communication, computing, medicine and many other aspects of today’s society possible.

To avoid external dependence, the European Chip Law announced an investment of 43,000 million euros until 2030 with the objective that, by that date, Europe concentrates 20% of global chip production, a percentage that is currently, according to the EU itself, at 9%.

The law, approved by the European Parliament in 2022, urges investment in talent training and the development of skills in the field of semiconductors. There are thousands of professionals with open vacancies in Europe for electronic engineers. The demand for these professionals is amplified with the creation of pan-European design platforms.

The master’s degree, which will start in September 2024 with an offer of 30 places, will have 60 ECTS credits. It will be taught in English. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics and offers two specialties.

In the Semiconductor Engineering specialty, training will be provided for the use of microelectronic chip technologies in different aspects, such as clean room manufacturing, encapsulation, characterization and reliability analysis, as well as the physical understanding of the phenomena that occur in current and emerging semiconductor devices.

The Microelectronic Design specialty aims to train in the design of integrated, digital and analog microelectronic circuits and systems in advanced technologies.

In the creation process, contact was made with the Fabcat group, which promotes Catalonia as a “location of semiconductor factories and the attraction of productive investment.”

Students of the new master’s degree will have access to laboratories equipped with cutting-edge technology and will be able to participate in innovative research projects. One of these laboratories will be the Micro and Nanofabrication White Room of the IMB-CNM-CSIC, a Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS) of 1,500 square meters that will provide students with a unique opportunity to enter the world of microelectronic technologies from a more practical and applied aspect.

In addition, the program will offer professional internship opportunities in technology companies in order to complete the training and promote the job placement of students, while meeting the demands of the microelectronics industry.