Less than six months after the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Free State of Saxony, TUD Dresden University of Technology, and Taiwan semiconductor company TSMC, the first students from Saxony are embarking on a six-month study trip to Taiwan as part of the innovative Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program (STIPT). Under STIPT, the Free State of Saxony, TUD, and TSMC will work closely together to prepare STEM students for careers as highly skilled professionals in the semiconductor industry. As part of their studies, the students will complete a semester with teaching on the semiconductor industry at the National Taiwan University (Taipei), combined with practical training at the Newcomer Training Center & Fab at TSMC (Taichung).

More than 120 students applied for the study trip, of which 30 were selected for the first trip. The young talents study electrical engineering, computer science, physics, and chemistry at TU Dresden, Leipzig University of Applied Sciences, and TU Bergakademie Freiberg.

When sending off the students, Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow said: “I am delighted that we have been able to launch the program so quickly. In response to the urgent need for specialists in the semiconductor industry here in Saxony, we are breaking new ground in a close partnership between scientific institutions, with TSMC and also between the Free State of Saxony and Taiwan. You are the first to embark on this journey, paving the way for all those who will follow in your footsteps in the future. I would like to thank TU Dresden and all our partners involved for the highly professional organization of this program. I wish the students every success, many valuable insights for their studies and a lot of fun discovering the country, its people and culture.”

The Rector of TU Dresden, Prof. Ursula Staudinger emphasized: “The rapid and successful launch of the Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program demonstrates that TU Dresden is leveraging its considerable expertise in microelectronics, nanoelectronics and advanced materials science. Through its coordination and recruiting activities within the program, TU Dresden is taking responsibility for building a strong base of specialists in semiconductor development. This enables us to increase the visibility and attractiveness of our degree programs in this area while also addressing our goal of contributing to solving challenges of the 21st century by training highly qualified specialists for careers in the semiconductor industry of tomorrow. We wish the students who are now going to Taiwan every success and an unforgettable semester full of new experiences.”

The Chief Officer Technology Transfer and Internationalization, Prof. Dr. Ronald Tetzlaff, added: “The fact that we are able to send the first students to Taiwan as part of the Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program after only four months is proof of TU Dresden's keen focus on internationalization. I would like to thank the staff of our Directorate Student Affairs and Continuing Education, and especially the International Office and Josef Goldberger, who heads the Saxon Science Liaison Office Taiwan, for taking on important coordination and recruiting tasks for STIPT. This next step in our international collaboration program underscores the strong partnership between TSMC and TUD. Our wish for our students is that they will have an enriching intercultural experience and gain compelling insights for their studies.”

The Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program Taiwan (STIPT) 
Selection process and preparation:

Students who are interested in the program started submitting applications to TU Dresden in the fourth quarter of 2023. The university selected the most promising applications based on merit with the first group comprising 30 students chosen from 124 applicants.
The selected students then attended orientation courses including language courses and intercultural skills training (online).

Exchange phase:

The four-month academic program at the National Taiwan University (NTU), the program's partner university in Taipei, begins in March. After that, the students will spend time gaining practical work experience at TSMC's Newcomer Training Center in a factory in Taichung.
All students will be in regular contact with the Saxon Science Liaison Office in Taipei during their study visit, which will ensure that their stay in Taiwan runs smoothly.
After their return, the students continue their studies in Saxony.

In the coming months and years, the plan is to expand the program to other universities in Saxony and Taiwan, thereby further increasing the number of participants and the attractiveness of the program. 

TU Dresden’s partners in Taiwan are: 

• TSMC 
• National Taiwan University  
• National Taiwan University for Science and Technology (tbc) 
• National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (tbc) 
• National Tsing Hua University (tbc) 
• National Chung Hsing University (tbc) 

The plan is to include all universities in Saxony that are interested in participating in the program from 2024/25. In the medium to long term, the number of participants from all universities in Saxony will be increased. 

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