On 12 and 13 October 2026, a Dutch delegation of companies and knowledge partners traveled to Flanders for the ChipNL CC Mission to Flanders. The group met Flemish colleagues at the Dutch embassy in Brussels and then visited imec in Leuven and Soitec and Jabil in Hasselt. The goal: to show where the Dutch and Flemish semiconductor sectors complement each other, and who should be talking to whom.
Why Flanders?
Europe needs a strong semiconductor ecosystem to enhance its innovation power and competitive position. The Netherlands and Flanders are neighbors with complementary expertise. By connecting that expertise, new opportunities arise for companies and knowledge institutions on both sides of the border.
ChipNL CC organized the mission together with the Dutch embassy in Brussels, to connect Dutch companies and knowledge partners with the Flemish ecosystem.
Day 1: The Flemish ecosystem at the embassy in Brussels
The mission began on Monday afternoon at the Dutch embassy in Brussels. Lou Hermans (Flanders Semiconductors) provided an overview of the semiconductor industry in Belgium, focusing on front-end technology and the Flemish sector. Michael Peeters (Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office) welcomed the group on behalf of the Flemish government and Winnie Himpe (Department WEWIS) shared her perspective on the Flemish ecosystem.
From ChipNL CC, Mark Luke Farrugia (ChipTech Twente) spoke about advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration. Jermain Smits concluded the content contributions on behalf of ChipNL CC. It was his first time on stage representing ChipNL CC and his first trade mission.
During the walking dinner, Dutch and Flemish participants sought each other out. Several participants indicated that they made follow-up appointments after the mission.
Day 2: imec, Soitec and Jabil
On Tuesday, imec in Leuven was on the agenda. Participants received presentations on the NanoIC pilot line and the European Chips Design Platform (EuroCDP) and took a cleanroom window tour. For many participants, those presentations and the glimpse into the cleanroom were particularly impressive. For many participants, those presentations and the glimpse into the cleanroom were particularly impressive such as insights of design flow to be available in the cloud and access to afordable EDA software tools. Thiago Raddo (imec Netherlands) facilitaded and created the bridge with imec colleagues from Belgium, supporting part of the agenda.
In the afternoon, the group went to Hasselt for a visit to Soitec and Jabil. At Jabil, participants saw a test setup, among other things. Photos of this are not available because the information is confidential. This visit was named by participants as the most valuable part of the program.
What participants thought of it
Afterwards, participants filled out an evaluation form. All respondents made new contacts. Some expect a concrete follow-up, especially in the form of supplier or customer relationships and commercial collaboration. Several participants mentioned planned appointments with potential customers, a supplier visit, and discussions about chip design. Most participants want to join a ChipNL CC mission or event again.
European context
The mission fits within the European network of Chips Competence Centres, established as part of the EU Chips Act and the Digital Europe Programme. The network aims to connect national ecosystems, allowing companies to access pilot lines, design platforms, and funding across Europe. With this mission, ChipNL CC connected Dutch companies to the Flemish ecosystem, including imec and the NanoIC pilot line.
Role of ChipNL CC
ChipNL CC organized the mission, took care of the program, logistics, and communication, and brought the Dutch participants together. The competence center connects Dutch SMEs, startups, and knowledge institutions with European knowledge, pilot lines, and networks, such as the NanoIC pilot line and EuroCDP, and supports them in taking further steps. Do you want to follow up on one of the discussed topics, such as financing, EuroCDP, or matchmaking with partners? Contact us via www.cccnl.nl.
Thanks to the Dutch embassy in Brussels for the warm welcome and to imec, Soitec, Jabil, and Flanders Semiconductors for their contribution.
