European chip equipment giant ASML has launched a project designed to discover and foster key engineering talent in China, in the latest show of its commitment to the market despite intensified US restrictions on advanced chipmaking technologies.
The Dutch lithography system maker has launched a science competition aimed at deepening public understanding of lithography – the critical process of etching circuit patterns onto silicon wafers – and fostering new tech talent in the country, according to a post on its official WeChat account.
The online competition, open from late June through early July, and featuring 20 questions, targets Chinese semiconductor professionals and science enthusiasts.
The top 16 contestants will have the opportunity to interview for a job at the company, while another 75 top scorers will be included in the firm’s potential talent pool, according to a statement by ASML.
The competition is committed to creating a “window for contestants to deeply explore lithography technology”, while cultivating talent to “jointly promote the evolution of Moore’s Law”, the statement said.
The initiative signals ASML’s willingness to invest in and search for new talent in China, despite the fact that Washington has been tightening restrictions on the country’s access to advanced chipmaking technologies, including those from US allies such as the Netherlands and Japan.
