From the University of Bologna to Taiwan, for the semiconductors of the future

National Cheng Kung University - Tainan

Matteo Girasole, Giovanni Tedaldi, Mattia Chiappalone, Paolo Avenali– the first student enrolled in the Master’s degree programme in Electronic Engineering in Bologna, the others being enrolled in the second-cycle degree programme in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering for Energy at the Cesena Campus – and Andrea Lico – a PhD student in Electronics – are the five University of Bologna students currently in Taipei and Tainan on the Taiwan Semiconductor Program.

Offered by the Taiwanese government to promote the training of international students in the semiconductor industry, this year (2024) the Programme includes an Integrated Circuit Design and Implementation Course. Participants have the opportunity to attend university courses and undertake internships in companies in the world capital of semiconductor manufacturing, with a market share of over 60%.

The initiative is broken down into two tracks, both held in English. The first, which opened on 1 July, comprises four weeks of training in IC Design and Management or, alternatively, in Cell-based IC Design, followed by a four-week internship at a Taiwanese company.

The second, which started on 27 July, first involves attending a three-week course—Semiconductor in Taiwan: Trends and Transformations held at National Taiwan University (Taipei) or, alternatively, Essentials of Semiconductor Technology and Supply Chains held at National Cheng Kung University (Tainan)—followed by two weeks of practical applications at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute.

"Taiwan's industrial strength in the electronics sector, particularly in semiconductors, makes it the best country in which to learn. Here, I am on the cutting-edge of technology, I can study the history and culture that allowed Taiwan to become a focal point of thew world’s semiconductor production", says Paolo Avenali, currently in Tainan to study Essentials of Semiconductor Technology and Supply Chains at National Cheng Kung University. "I consider this experience crucial for my future: in addition to studying, it allows me to get to know other enthusiasts of this field in Europe and around the world, and above all to grow under Taiwan’s outstanding university professors".

National Cheng Kung University - Tainan

"Taiwan plays a key role in the global semiconductor industry. This small country is one of the world's leading manufacturers, with a dominant role in the supply of advanced chips. For an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering student like me, the idea of being able to study here was very exciting", comments Giovanni Tedaldi, who is attending the course entitled 'Semiconductor in Taiwan: Trends and Transformations' at National Taiwan University in Taipei. "The possibility of sharing an experience with students from other Italian and European universities and with Taiwanese professors is a one-off opportunity: it has enriched both my university career and my life", Giovanni concludes.

"Spending an internship at a Taiwanese university and company is a great opportunity for our electrical engineering students, one that strengthens their awareness of the strategic importance of the discipline and technology they are training in. It also contributes to making them future ambassadors for the many boys and girls we wish to attract into this educational pathway, which can guarantee a bright professional future and contribute to our country's technology assets", says Enrico Sangiorgi, Professor of Electronics at the Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", who promoted the Taiwan Semiconductor Programme at the University of Bologna in his capacity as member of the interministerial committee for microelectronics.

Besides representing a valuable training opportunity, the Programme contributes to strengthening bilateral scientific collaboration between Italy and Taiwan, especially in the field of advanced microelectronics. It is open to academics, researchers and students of Master’s degree programmes and professional master's programmes focusing on electronics, electrical engineering, semiconductor science and applications, micro electro-mechanical systems and optoelectronics.