Tuomas Lahtinen appointed as Director of Tampere University’s SiPFAB pilot line

Tampere University is building a System-in-Package Fabrication (SiPFAB) pilot line for semiconductor packaging. SiBFAB will not only encourage companies to adopt the latest technologies but also promote university-industry collaboration. Funded by the EU’s Chips Act, the pilot line will lower the barrier to entry for companies to initiate their own production activities with support from Tampere University. 

Tuomas Lahtinen has extensive experience in establishing cleanroom packaging lines from startups and SMEs. He transitions to his new role from ADVAFAB. The SiPFAB pilot line will be hosted by the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences (ITC) at Tampere University.

“Tuomas Lahtinen holds broad-ranging expertise in this field and impressive merits accumulated in the private sector. Under his leadership, we will engage in important cooperation with regional, national and European industry stakeholders,” says Jyrki Vuorinen, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences.

Bridging the gap between science and industry

Lahtinen is looking forward to cultivating a positive culture and collaborating closely with partners and stakeholders to address their technological challenges.

“Europe has clear ambitions to become a global semiconductor industry leader. Our mission is to work with local and European partners to bridge the gap between science and industry, and to promote growth,” Tuomas Lahtinen says.

One-of-a-kind funding places the Tampere region at the forefront of chip technologies 

The €40 million in funding for establishing the SiPFAB pilot line marks one of the largest investments ever granted to a university in Finland for advancing research and innovation. The EU’s Chips Act initiative is funding the construction of semiconductor pilot lines across Europe. In Finland, the VTT Technical Research Centre will host several pilot lines. 

This substantial funding will drive the advancement of semiconductor technologies in the Tampere region, contributing to the EU’s efforts to achieve greater technological self-sufficiency.

“The five-year funding granted under the EU’s Chips Act for Tampere University and its partners will provide a solid foundation on which SiPFAB will be built. I am also eager to strengthen Tampere’s reputation as a hub of technological innovation, and to attract new talent and companies to the region,” Lahtinen says.