New York & the Netherlands sign semiconductor partnership

Collaboration, Innovation, & Sustainability

The Netherlands and New York State have agreed to work together on the latest generation of semiconductors, specifically sustainable chip production and talent development. The partnership was signed Wednesday during a semiconductor forum at NY CREATES Albany NanoTech Complex.

Governor Kathy Hochul and Netherlands Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher signed the Memorandum of Understanding, in presence of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

“This partnership with our Dutch counterparts will help to take New York’s chips transformation to the next level,” Governor Hochul said. “New York and the Netherlands share a belief that the countries that lead the semiconductor renaissance will chart the path forward for the rest of the world. With this MOU, we are doubling down on our commitment to putting collaboration, innovation, and sustainability front and center in our effort to build the next generation of semiconductor technology and create high-tech, good-paying jobs.”

New York and the Netherlands will work together on advancing the global semiconductor innovation, promoting sustainability within the semiconductor industry, enhancing workforce development opportunities, and advancing semiconductor research and development.

As part of this new partnership, the Governor Hochul announced a new state program to sponsor up to five State University of New York students to attend the prestigious Eindhoven Semicon Summer School Program this summer in the Netherlands.

“As leaders in semiconductor and integrated photonics development, New York State and the Netherlands are home to some of the most innovative companies, engineers, and researchers in the world,” said Liesje Schreinemacher, the Netherlands’ Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. “Of course we are very proud of this achievement, and, at the same time, there remains room for growth. As friends and allies, our countries can work together and pave the way for new business opportunities, greater innovation, and increased job opportunities, ultimately leading to a healthier, more prosperous and more sustainable society.”

The Netherlands and New York are home to many key players in the global semiconductor ecosystem. Together they host a cluster that occupies a leading position and are recognized worldwide as a cornerstone of innovation and progress.

“Semiconductor technology will make us smarter, faster, and cleaner,” Consul General Ahmed Dadou said. “Our countries are leaders in chip technology, and the rest of the world looks at US and Dutch innovations to find out where the future will take us. This mission moves the collaboration between the Netherlands and New York forward, shaping the future of the semiconductor industry, especially in workforce development and sustainability. ”

The signing took place during the visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima to the United States and a parallel economic mission on semiconductor and photonics. A business delegation of almost 30 companies and institutes visit Connecticut, New York and Ontario, Canada, this week to expand their network, exchange knowledge, and explore future collaborations.

Kathy Vredeveldt 莫凯希 , co-founder and CFO of inPhocal, a company offering an innovative laser solution, joined the mission because of the strong opportunities: “The interpersonal connections made during this trip enables us to foster innovation collaboration and mutual prosperity as semicon is by nature interconnected worldwide.”

The visit comes at an important moment: The EU and the US are investing heavily in advanced technologies and associated ecosystems, for instance the US CHIPS and Science Act has allocated $53 billion, while the EU Chips Act has allocated €43 billion. Together with the US, the Netherlands is a leading player in emerging technologies, such as integrated photonics and quantum computing.

This mission emphasizes the Dutch expertise in the semiconductor industry and integrated photonics, with companies such as ASML , ASM and NXP Semiconductors as world leaders. Talent development is an important theme, together with the main focus areas:  integrated photonics, chip design, advanced packaging, and equipment.

Jorn Smeets , Chief Marketing Officer at PhotonDelta , a cross-border ecosystem of photonic chip technology organizations: “North America is home to many organizations that are paving the way in semicon and the various application domains for Photonic Integrated Circuit technology, making it a strategic market for us to collaborate with.”

The mission is a follow-up of the semiconductor mission to Arizona and California in December 2023, led by Prime Minister Rutte and Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate, Micky Adriaansens

The collaboration between the Netherlands and New York will be an important tool for both parties  to continue their innovative advantage in the semiconductor industry. The execution of the agreement will be coordinated by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington, D.C.

• Read more about the participants in this mission booklet: Netherlands economic mission to the USA and Canada (tradewithnl.nl)

The State of New York VNO-NCW Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat Netherlands Enterprise Agency Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the USA