Semiconductors in the focus of German-Czech cooperation

The Technical University of Liberec, the German University of Applied Sciences in Zittau/Görlitz, representatives of the cities of Liberec and Zittau, and the Czech-German-Polish Euroregion Neisse-Nisa-Nysa have agreed to develop new avenues of cooperation. These efforts aim to support a unified educational program in the field of mechatronics at both universities, with the option of studying in the respective national language.

At an initial meeting, participants explored how the German-Czech university program could be integrated into a single degree programme while allowing for instruction in the students’ respective native languages. Participants in the meeting included Martin Půta, Governor of the Liberec Region and Chair of the Czech part of the Euroregion; Stephan Meyer, District Administrator of the Görlitz District and Chair of the German part of the Euroregion; Jaroslav Zámečník, Mayor of the Statutory City of Liberec; Thomas Zenker, mayor of Zittau; Gloria Heymann, from the Economic Department of the City of Zittau; Miroslav Brzezina, Rector of the Technical University of Liberec and President of the Academic Coordination Center in the Euroregion; Josef Cernohorsky, Dean of the Faculty of Mechatronics, Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Studies at the Technical University of Liberec; Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences; Sophia Keil, Vice President for Education and International Affairs at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences; and Ondřej Havlicek, representing the Neisse-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion.

“The goal of the meeting was to discuss new opportunities for cooperation at the university level that would be mutually beneficial; and I think we succeeded,” said Martin Půta, Governor of the Liberec Region. “Specifically, the discussion focused on the joint Czech-German field of mechatronics and semiconductor manufacturing, which will draw on the experience and expertise that both universities already possess. The project was supported by all participants.”

Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, added: “We would like to contribute our experience in teaching and research in the field of semiconductor technology to joint teaching and research programs.”

“Together with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, we already offer a joint Master's degree programme in mechatronics, which is, of course, taught in English. Graduates of this programme receive not only a Czech Diplom but also one recognized by the German side. The latter has now submitted a proposal for a degree programme that will be taught entirely in the students’ native language. In the Bachelor degree programme, the same professional subjects would be taught at both universities, with intensive Czech language instruction in Zittau and intensive German language instruction in Liberec,” explained Miroslav Brzezina, Rector of the Technical University of Liberec. “The idea of identical programs in German and Czech still needs to be a good job. We’re still in the very early stages.”

“This is a unique opportunity for future graduates. First and foremost, we are already preparing people for smart manufacturing and process automation, but with a greater focus on specific sectors within semiconductor manufacturing. Given the EU’s activities under the Chips Act and the ESMC’s investments in Dresden, this is a unique opportunity to involve the Czech Republic and TUL in these efforts,” said Josef Černohorský, Dean of the Faculty of Mechatronics, Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Studies at the Technical University of Liberec.

The Technical University of Liberec also maintains a long-standing collaboration with universities in Taiwan. Taiwan is one of the most technologically advanced countries and one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers. The exchange of experience between the universities takes place across nearly all faculties—for example, in the past, research on the thermoacoustic engine at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, or a comprehensive health promotion system in collaboration with NCKU, in which the Faculty of Mechatronics was particularly involved. Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and the Technical University of Liberec have also signed a bilateral memorandum regarding their planned collaboration.

The Neisse-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion is now set to prepare the next step. Specifically, the goal is to organize a meeting this spring bringing together representatives from companies, investors, foreign trade offices, and universities. The meeting will showcase the capabilities of both universities in the fields of microtechnology production and semiconductor studies.