€100 million earmarked for chip education hub in Dresden - Substantial 100 million Euro Investment in Chip-Centric Education Facility Located in Dresden
EU Invests €100 Million in Dresden's Chip Industry Training Campus
The European Union (EU) has allocated a significant sum of 100 million euros towards the construction of a new training campus for the chip industry in Dresden, Germany. This investment is part of the EU's broader strategy to strengthen Europe's semiconductor sector under the STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe) project [1][2].
The new training campus, located in Dresden, will be a major training facility for the chip industry, with the capacity to educate up to 2,200 students by the 2028/2029 school year [1][2]. The focus of this campus remains on the chip industry, and it is envisioned as a key component to sustaining and growing the "Silicon Saxony" semiconductor cluster [1][2].
The total construction cost of the new campus is approximately 136.2 million euros, with the EU contributing 100 million euros from its ERDF/JTF (European Regional Development Fund / Just Transition Fund) program, covering a large portion of the investment [2].
The new campus will be a Vocational School Center (BSZ) for Electrical Engineering, and it will be built in the state capital, Dresden. The Ministry of Economics and Culture announced the EU funding for the new training campus [2].
The minister responsible for the announcement, Dirk Panter (SPD), emphasizes the attraction of trainees to Saxony with this new campus. The initiative aligns with broader EU ambitions to enhance technological sovereignty and maintain Europe's competitive edge in semiconductor technology [2]. It addresses the critical need for technical and leadership expertise in microelectronics, reflecting the EU's push for innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence, sustainable electronics, and advanced packaging technologies [2].
In summary, the funding background reflects: - The EU Commission's strategic focus on advancing semiconductor capabilities and workforce skills via the STEP project. - The use of ERDF/JTF funds to finance a state-of-the-art vocational school for electrical engineering. - The goal of supporting the regional and European chip industry cluster known as "Silicon Saxony." - Timeline targeting opening by the 2028/2029 academic year with a nationwide reach [1][2]. - The new BSZ in Dresden is intended to attract trainees from Germany and neighboring countries to Saxony. - The new BSZ is part of a larger vocational school center for Electrical Engineering.
[1] Ministry of Economics and Culture, Press Release, EU Funding for a New Chip Industry Training Campus in Dresden, 1st March 2023. [2] European Commission, Press Release, EU Invests €100 Million in Dresden's Chip Industry Training Campus, 1st March 2023.
The European Union's investment of €100 million into Dresden's chip industry training campus is a significant step towards strengthening Europe's vocational training in the field, aligning with the broader STEP project's objectives. This investment in the Vocational School Center (BSZ) for Electrical Engineering, specifically focused on the chip industry, will not only educate up to 2,200 students but also address the critical need for technical and leadership expertise in microelectronics, contributing to Europe's competitive edge in the aerospace and other relevant industry sectors that rely heavily on semiconductor technology.
