FEEC BUT has launched a unique study program focused on chip design and semiconductor technologies

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication of Brno University of Technology (FEEC BUT) has launched a new bachelor’s and master’s program this academic year: “Chip Design and Modern Semiconductor Technologies.” This is a unique field of study in the Czech environment, responding to the significant shortage of experts in the area of chips and modern semiconductors. Interest in the program exceeded expectations.

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication of BUT has launched a unique study program focused on chip design and semiconductor technologies. | Author: Václav Koníček

“Experts in semiconductor technologies have been in long-term and acute shortage on the market – estimates speak of a need for up to three thousand specialists in the Czech Republic and as many as fifty thousand in Europe,” explains program director Vilém Kledrowetz. “That is why a new, unique program in the Czech Republic has been created, combining theory with practice and preparing graduates for careers in chip development, testing, manufacturing, and research.”

Linking with practice and top-level research

The program’s teaching is built on a combination of theoretical foundations and practical skills. Students will take part in project-based learning, team assignments, and colloquia. “Graduates of this program will be able to find employment in leading companies such as onsemi, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Codasip, Analog Devices and others, and will be in demand in both the industrial and academic sectors in the Czech Republic and abroad,” adds Kledrowetz.

The new Bachelor’s and Master’s program was officially launched on September 15, with Deputy Minister of Education Jiří Nantl in attendance. | Author: Václav Koníček

The program also connects with a strong research background – for example, the CEITEC BUT center of scientific excellence is involved, where students gain experience with state-of-the-art cleanroom laboratories and semiconductor structure manufacturing technologies.

The new program has attracted considerable interest among applicants – 119 students have enrolled. “The new study program is proof that FEEC BUT can respond flexibly to the needs of industry and society. Our students will acquire knowledge and practical experience that will open doors to top companies and research centers, while also strengthening Brno’s position as a European hub of semiconductor technologies,” said faculty dean Vladimír Aubrecht.

The ceremonial launch of the study program also included a tour of the laboratories. | Author: Martin Dušek

Importance for the region and Europe

The new study program strengthens Brno’s role as a major center of semiconductor research and development. At the same time, it contributes to fulfilling European and national strategies in the field of technological self-sufficiency and support for the semiconductor industry, which is key for future innovations. The program’s launch is also connected with the start of the Czech Semiconductor Centre (CSC), which has been operating since April 2025 as a national competence center linking academia with industry and supporting innovation in chip design and manufacturing. The role of universities within CSC is, among other things, to ensure sufficient human resources for the Czech semiconductor industry through their graduates – something BUT is actively working on, for example by opening specialized study programs like this one.

The text was published as a press release.