Bridging continents: Semiconductor research continues with strategic exploration in Slovenia

When Masoud Agah, executive director of the Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology (VAST), traveled to Slovenia in January, he initiated a promising dialogue that could redefine international semiconductor collaboration. 

As VAST continues positioning Virginia at the forefront of semiconductor innovation, conversations like these underscore the importance of global partnerships in driving technological advancement.

The meetings with Slovenian government officials, academic leaders, and industry experts took place at the Slovenian Conference on Chips and Semiconductors (SLO-Chip) conference, an internationally revered summit for newly established competence centers for chips and semiconductor technologies from Slovenia, Austria, Croatia and France, supported by the European Commission under the European Chips Act program. In addition to furthering VAST’s mission of joint venture initiatives, the gathering revealed a compelling opportunity for strategic partnership, highlighting the potential for transatlantic innovation in microelectronics and semiconductor technologies.

“Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders, particularly research institutions, higher education institutions, and companies. Slovenia has a wealth of expertise in this critical field. While our country may not compete in large-scale chip production, we can harness our expertise to excel in niche segments of specialized chips and technologies.”

 A vision of collaborative innovation

VAST is committed to semiconductor research and recognizes the importance of global collaboration. Slovenia emerged as a promising partner, possessing a technological infrastructure that aligns remarkably well with VAST's strategic objectives of knowledge and resource sharing, access to facilities and resources, bilateral research agreements and joint industry-academic partnerships. Despite being geographically distant, both regions share a vision of pushing semiconductor technology beyond traditional boundaries.

“The USA is certainly a strategic partner for Slovenia in the field of chips and semiconductors,” said Janez Krč, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia and the  principal investigator of the Slovenian Chip Competence Center selected by the European Commission. “We have just learned that the state of Virginia offers great opportunities and is open to cooperation with foreign institutions and companies for research and business development. In our opinion, VAST plays an important role in this respect.” He shared his appreciation for the partnership with Agah and VAST as the organization allows for greater collaboration in the field of chips and semiconductors internationally. “Masoud has a great vision, putting aside borders and obstacles and focusing on supporting research, innovation, and business.”

By creating pathways for student exchanges, summer internships, and faculty collaboration, VAST and Slovenian institutions could forge a powerful bridge of knowledge transfer, innovation, and workforce development. These shared semiconductor research and education methodologies would not only enrich both regions' academic programs but also cultivate a new generation of globally-minded semiconductor professionals. 

The partnership could also expand to economic development possibilities, as highlighted during Agah's recent meetings with semiconductor and electronics companies in Slovenia. During these strategic discussions, Agah outlined the compelling value propositions Virginia offers to companies considering U.S. expansion. These include the state's robust semiconductor ecosystem and comprehensive support network through VAST partners like the Virginia Economic Development Partnership  and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation.

These advantages, coupled with Virginia's recent recognition as America's Top State for Business by CNBC, position the commonwealth as an ideal location for international semiconductor enterprises. Slovenian entrepreneurs could find fertile ground for establishing semiconductor startups in Virginia, while Virginia's universities could see increased activity in chip design, fabrication, manufacturing, and research and development through collaboration with Slovenian companies. This two-way flow of talent and technology could significantly enhance both regions' presence in the global semiconductor landscape.

Context of collaboration

The timing of this exploratory mission is particularly significant. With global semiconductor supply chains becoming increasingly complex and technological innovation accelerating, international partnerships like the emerging Virginia-Slovenia dialogue could become strategic assets for the commonwealth, helping to position Virginia as a leader in emerging technologies with economic potential through the creation of jobs and novel academic opportunities for students.

Charting the path forward

While no formal agreements have been finalized, the initial conversations at the SLO-CHIP conference represent a promising first step. The discussions, centered around VAST's innovative programs, such as Fast Track to Semiconductor Careers, Experiential Learning, Innovation, and Talent Empowerment and Start-up and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development, demonstrate significant mutual interest. VAST is drafting a formal memorandum of understanding to outline a road map for the international collaboration.

"We're exploring a relationship that could fundamentally transform how we approach semiconductor technology," Agah noted. "This isn't about immediate contracts, but about building a foundation for future collaboration.”

To learn more about VAST and its upcoming programs, visit www.vast-alliance.org.