HighTech@HSZG meets Infineon Technologies

On June 19, 2025, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Sophia Keil, Vice President for Research, Transfer, and International Affairs, invited representatives from Infineon in Dresden to the workshop “HighTech@HSZG meets Infineon Technologies: Partnership for Securing Skilled Workers and Innovation” at the Celsiuz Co-Creation Lab in Zittau.

The workshop followed up on the International Business Conference held on April 9, 2025, which addressed opportunities to increase the Upper Lusatia region’s appeal to the semiconductor industry, regional supply chain potential, and securing a skilled workforce. (Clickhere to watch the International Business Conference video.) This workshop specifically focused on the topic of securing skilled workers—in particular, the further development of dual study programs and the design of new degree programmes in the semiconductor sector.

Shaping the Future Through Tailored Degree Programs for the Industry

The meeting centered on the question of what future-oriented degree programs at HSZG must look like in order to meet the semiconductor industry’s growing need for skilled workers. Together with Infineon, representatives from the university discussed the content and structure of the planned degree programmes in Semiconductor Processes and Materials Chemistry (B.Sc.) and Mechatronics for Manufacturing (B.Sc.), the latter of which is being developed in cooperation with the Technical University of Liberec. The goal is to create practice-oriented curricula that equip young talents with solid skills while also providing them with early hands-on experience.

Particular emphasis was placed on the Cooperative Engineering Education Programme (KIA) model, which enables a close integration of academic education and industrial practice. In addition, other key aspects of the proposed partnership with Infineon were discussed—including the recruitment of specialized faculty, the expansion of international collaborations, and strategies for retaining qualified professionals in the region over the long term.

Insights from the Field—from Siemens Energy to KIA Students at HSZG

Among the workshop guests was Siemens Energy—a long-standing and valued KIA partner of HSZG. Janek Tiefel, learning process facilitator and training manager at Siemens Energy, along with KIA student Martin Alexander Schlemmer, provided valuable insights into the practical realities of dual training. They discussed successful collaboration models and demonstrated how KIA students can be successfully integrated into the company’s day-to-day operations. Martin Alexander Schlemmer gave a particularly compelling account of his personal academic and practical experiences and made it clear why he would choose the KIA (sandwich-style) degree course at HSZG again and again. The contributions from Siemens Energy served as a practical starting point for the subsequent discussion with Infineon.

A highlight of the program was the presentation by Alexander Klimmek, a KIA student in the field of automation technology participating in a cooperative program with Deutsche Bahn. He is currently completing an internship at the semiconductor manufacturer TSMC in Taiwan. His perspective impressively demonstrated how international experience, academic training, and practical study phases can be meaningfully integrated.

From Theory to Implementation—Concrete Next Steps

Following a guided tour of the DLR_School_Lab at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, the workshop findings were consolidated and concrete measures were agreed upon. These include:

• the integration of corporate requirements into the curricula of the new degree programs,
• the development of a placement model for KIA students at Infineon,
• and the establishment of a regular exchange between the university and industry partners.

The curriculum adjustments developed during the workshop are to be integrated into the new degree programs, which will begin in the winter semester of 2026.

The workshop impressively demonstrated how the university and industry can jointly develop innovative degree programs that address both regional needs and international challenges. The planned degree programs and the intensive collaboration with Infineon make an important contribution to securing a sustainable supply of skilled workers in the key semiconductor industry—while simultaneously strengthening the university’s role as a regional driver of innovation. “We see ourselves as a bridge between academia and industry—and as an active partner in shaping structural change in Upper Lusatia, ” concluded Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Sophia Keil.