Merck and Intel have launched a European academic research program with eleven institutions from six countries focused on sustainable semiconductor manufacturing. Through six collaborative projects, the program aims to use AI and machine learing to develop new materials and more efficient processes, and reduce waste, thereby advancing semiconductor technologies while promoting environmental sustainability.

1. Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, is developing a molecular dynamics and deep learning framework to analyze multi-modal materials data.
2. Fritz-Haber-Institute and Humboldt-University in Berlin, Germany, are using AI to discover new memristor materials.
3. National Technical University of Athens, National Centre for Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’, and University of Patras in Greece are working on AI models to improve plasma etching efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
4. Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK, and Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany, are transforming atomic-scale processing data into AI tools for sustainable materials development.
5. Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, leads “MatAssist,” focusing on intelligent material and process design.
6. EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, is applying large language models to address PFAS waste in semiconductor manufacturing.

In 2023, Merck and Intel jointly launched the three-year academic research program and invited European research groups to submit proposals. Eleven institutions from Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK were selected, aiming to advance semiconductor research, inspire future talent, and bolster Europe’s role in the global semiconductor industry.

The goal of the companies is to build on the existing potential of the European research landscape, to contribute to the targeted promotion of semiconductor research, to inspire future talent for the industry, and to further strengthen Europe’s position in the global semiconductor industry.

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• Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA, USA
• Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany