National Microchip Talent Reinforcement Plan

In the spring of 2024, the government announced that it would invest €2.5 billion in the microchip sector.

Minister Beljaarts: “The Netherlands has a strong semiconductor sector. The government wants to continue investing in this. This is important for our economy, safety and preventing dependencies on other countries outside the EU. Microchips are in all kinds of devices and machines, such as washing machines, cars and telephones, that consumers and companies use every day. At the moment, all kinds of innovations with this technology are taking place in which Europe and the Netherlands want to be leading.”

Sufficient and well-trained technicians are a crucial prerequisite for companies in the microchip sector, with ASML as the best-known example, to continue to grow. An estimated 38,000 additional people will be needed in the coming years, more than 2/3 of whom will be in the Brainport Eindhoven region. That is why the government has made €450 million available for this purpose once, and €80 million structurally. The aim is to train 33,000 additional technicians for the microchip sector by 2030, in secondary vocational education, higher professional education and university education.

On 20 November, the government announced the first investment. The task of training talent is a national task. Because most people are needed in the Brainport Eindhoven region, €45 million will go to educational institutions in that region. €9.4 million will go to educational institutions in the Delft region, €5.9 million in the Northern Netherlands and €20.4 million in Twente.

The investment is for the next 2 years. The government also has structural money available for the years after that. After a positive evaluation, the government will make the rest of the money available. In addition to the government's contribution, companies and educational institutions are also contributing, their total contribution is €310 million.

Minister Bruins: "With these investments, we are strengthening technical education in our country. That is good news. Not only for technical students, but also for our economy. Good technical education is crucial for the future of our country.”

Not just more, but also smarter training

The basis for the government's investments are plans that educational institutions have made themselves in recent months, and which they can now get started with. Their plans do not only concern more places for students in technical courses, but also, for example, smart collaborations between vocational education institutions, colleges and universities to get more technicians on the labour market. Think of a joint first year of study and more work-study programmes in vocational education and measures to prevent student drop-outs. More people from the business community will also teach, so that courses are better aligned with practice.

A steering group, led by former Philips CEO Hans de Jong, has assessed the plans of educational institutions and advised ministers Beljaarts and Bruins which plans are sufficient to quickly train more good people who can start working in the microchip sector.

Power grid, housing and infrastructure

The government is not only investing in training talent, but is also tackling other matters that are important to expand the microchip sector. This includes strengthening the power grid, ensuring good roads and public transport and more houses in the Brainport Eindhoven region.