Lifeport Chiptech Academy targets 6,000 technicians in Nijmegen
The Academy will be located at Noviotech Campus and collaborate with knowledge institutes and companies to cultivate semiconductor talent.
Published on February 22, 2025
© Noviotech Campus Nijmegen
In response to the growing personnel shortage in the chip industry, the Arnhem-Nijmegen region is presenting an ambitious Talent Plan that aims to train 6,320 technical specialists by 2030. The new Lifeport Chiptech Academy, located at the Noviotech Campus in Nijmegen, will collaborate with knowledge institutions and companies to cultivate talent in the semiconductor industry.
As companies such as NXP and Nexperia grow, the region is highlighting the importance of strategic investments to strengthen its position as a chip technology region. In addition to national focus, the region strives to attract international talent. Shortages in other sectors, such as energy, also remain in focus. With this strategic move, Gelderland aims to consolidate and increase its market position.
Urgent need
The urgency of the Talent Plan is underscored by an impending personnel shortage in the Gelderland chip industry. About 2,500 technicians will soon retire, increasing the pressure on the labor market. The Arnhem-Nijmegen region, currently home to four of the six largest chip companies in the Netherlands, generates an annual turnover of €3.5 billion in the semiconductor sector. This represents more than 10% of the total Dutch semiconductor sector. The Economic Board Regio Arnhem Nijmegen warns, “If we don't act now, we will continue to have a labor shortage in the future. The demand for chips continues to grow.”
Noviotech Campus
The Talent Plan, presented earlier this month in Nieuwspoort The Hague, focuses on training an additional 6,320 technical specialists by 2030. The new Lifeport Chiptech Academy, located at the Noviotech Campus in Nijmegen, will act as a focal point for cooperation between educational institutions, companies, and governments. The campus already houses the Netherlands' only chip factory, which has been supplying billions of chips worldwide for decades. Renowned companies such as Nexperia, NXP, and Ampleon are immediate neighbors of the new Academy.
The strength of the initiative lies in the broad cooperation between educational institutions. Radboud University, HAN University of Applied Sciences, ROC Nijmegen, and the Chip Integration Technology Center (CITC) are already actively involved in training talent for both their region and other areas such as Brainport. The Academy will focus on both young students and lateral entrants, developing continuing education initiatives to retain talent in the sector.
Challenges
Although Arnhem-Nijmegen is not among the four regions selected by the Cabinet for talent development in the semiconductor sector, the region has a strong starting position. Gelderland has applied for financial support from the central government for training in the chip sector. Helga Witjes, deputy for economic affairs, emphasizes that improving the business climate for the chip industry is crucial. The challenges are not limited to the chip industry; other sectors, such as the energy sector, also face a shortage of technical personnel.