Infineon Austria and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering open the "Mission Future Hub"

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana (UL FE) has entered a strategic partnership with Infineon Technologies Austria in the field of electrical engineering, within the framework of which the "Mission Future Hub" has been opened at UL FE - a space for active networking of students, researchers and industry representatives aimed at promoting innovation for the digital and green transition. It is an international long-term strategic collaboration between the faculty and the company, in which Infineon Technologies Austria funds research and development in the field of digital and green transition. The opening of the "Mission Future Hub" was also attended today by Igor Papič, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Emilija Stojmenova Duh, Minister of Digital Transformation, Marjana Majerič, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Elisabeth Ellison-Kramer, Austrian Ambassador, and Claudia Angermayr, representative of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Smart technologies, competitive innovation from Europe and highly skilled professionals are needed to achieve our energy and climate goals. The aim of the partnership is to carry out joint research and development projects, as well as teaching, training and networking. This kind of international cooperation strengthens the innovation culture in the Alpe-Adria region and broadens the pool of electrical engineering professionals in Europe. The partnership is part of Infineon Austria's participation in the IPCEI ME project.

Sabine Herlitschka, CEO Infineon Technologies Austria AG: "Climate knows no boundaries. Collaboration is needed more than ever to develop solutions for green and digital transformation and to make Europe more competitive. With electrical engineering or microelectronics, we have at our fingertips key technologies for decarbonisation and digitalisation that have enormous potential for further global innovation. This is our "mission for the future" and we are delighted to have an excellent partner in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana to drive this mission forward with us. As Infineon Austria, we contribute to this mission with our extensive expertise in the research, development and production of energy-saving chips and our extensive educational activities for more than 100,000 young people over the years. "The 'Mission Future Hub' is a centre for creative ideas and technological talent who want to make a sustainable difference."

Igor Papič, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: "Until this summer, we in Slovenia have mainly only seen how severe the consequences of climate change can be in other countries, but this time we have experienced it first-hand. On 4 August 2023, two thirds of the country were hit by floods so severe that recovery will take years.

The green and digital transition is therefore a prerequisite for preserving our nature and, at the same time, advancing our country. However, as climate challenges are not limited to one country, but to the whole world, international cooperation in this field is essential. Slovenian-Austrian cooperation is therefore an excellent opportunity to put into practice the knowledge triangle, which is key to the green and digital transition, as it links higher education, science and innovation. And, importantly, it will involve not only established professionals, but also students, who will not only gain valuable experience and knowledge, but also the knowledge that they can play an active role in shaping the future."

Emilija Stojmenova Duh, Minister for Digital Transformation: "The European Chips Act, adopted by the EU Council in July this year, aims to strengthen Europe's leadership in research and technology towards smaller and faster chips, increase production capacity to 20% of the global market by 2030, strengthen innovation capacity in advanced chip design and manufacturing, and attract new talent and a skilled workforce. Slovenian researchers and companies, regardless of the size of our country, are already very active in the field of advanced semiconductor technologies and microelectronics, working with important partners at global level. The University of Ljubljana and Infineon Austria are good examples of such cooperation. The Slovenian Government strongly supports this initiative and cross-border cooperation."

Prof. Dr Andrej Kos, Head of the Telecommunications Laboratory at UL FE, who coordinates the cooperation between UL FE and Infineon: "The strategy of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering includes modern study programmes, research excellence and close cooperation with companies in terms of projects and training. Long-term regional and international cooperation in high-tech areas is very important for the faculty, so that we can continuously improve our educational process and integrate cutting-edge research into our activities. We started to work intensively on the integration of modern innovative approaches into all areas of the faculty's activities more than 10 years ago, when we established the first open laboratory at the University of Ljubljana - Makerlab. This is the direction in which we are taking new steps in our cooperation with Infineon, and the new model is also an opportunity for other companies to start cooperating with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana in a similar way."

From energy efficiency, e-mobility to quantum research

The common research and education topics to be addressed by the partnership focus on electrical engineering and are thus an essential focal point for areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energies, electromobility, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things or quantum research. To increase the number of STEM graduates in Europe, training programmes specifically tailored to these themes will be developed. In addition, Infineon Austria offers students practical workshops, participation in Infineon Schools, support for bachelor, master and PhD theses, scholarships and business internships within the framework of IPCEI.

Innovation and network platform

The Infineon "Mission Future Hub" at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana will be a hub for collaboration and events. It will offer a valuable platform for students, tech talent, companies and startups to exchange ideas, learn, network and bring ideas to life. Joint projects between the UL Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Infineon Technologies Austria can lead to new developments in climate-friendly solutions and new business models. In doing so, we create the jobs of the future and strengthen the culture of innovation in the Alpe-Adria region.