Hlavní stránka Info portálu ZČU

The European Union, through the European Chip Act, is building competence in the development, production and application of semiconductor technologies and in particular chips, which are considered strategic assets. The University of West Bohemia responds to this fact in its planned research and study programmes. Cooperation with the Pilsen Region in the new area gives the opportunity to create an advanced semiconductor region with market opportunities, which would become part of the Czech semiconductor and European chip ecosystem.

The aim of the cooperation between the Pilsen Region and UWB is the implementation of key activities that will create a unique R&D (research and development) competence in the field of power electronics and power semiconductors at the university, which will have personnel capacities and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The results of the university's research will be used in practice by industrial partners in the region. New and existing companies will have access to innovative technologies and their commercialisation opportunities, opening up significant new opportunities and contracts for the regional subcontracting industry.

"The management of ZČU has taken and continues to take a number of steps in this matter. One of them is the recent joining of forces with other Czech universities in the field of higher education, research and development to secure the Czech semiconductor industry. The cooperation with the Pilsen Region will enable us to use our knowledge and link it with the industry in the region where we operate, and thus contribute significantly to its further development," said Miroslav Lávička, Rector of the university.

"The University is an important player in the field of power electronics and the Pilsen Region should support it in this direction. The signing of this agreement should be a guarantee that the Pilsen Region's application to the European Semiconductor Regions Alliance (ESRA), where the Czech Republic is already represented by the South Moravian Region, is at an advanced stage. The signing of the contract with the ZČU fits naturally into the whole concept," said Rudolf Špoták, the Governor of the Pilsen Region.

ZČU has formulated the Future power electronics and semiconductor technology 2035+ programme and plans to apply for subsidies of CZK 3-5 billion to support it. In case of obtaining a special-purpose subsidy, these funds will be used to build a state-of-the-art university facility in Pilsen and the Pilsen Region in the period 2025-2035. "We will focus our scientific research activities on new power electronic technologies with major applications in transport, energy, healthcare and industry, including special robotics and advanced manufacturing technologies," described Zdeněk Peroutka, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at UWB, whose team will be the leader in research and technology for power electronics and power semiconductors.

The joint efforts of the region and the university should help the local region become a major player in the field of semiconductor technologies and contribute to ensuring Europe's technological independence.