Anyone who wants to be successful in technology today chooses collaboration.
In early June 2026, TU/e and imec announced that they are further deepening their partnership in chip development. This fits into a broader trend: technology parties are increasingly seeking each other out in supply chains and collaborations. In doing so, they improve their products and strengthen their strategic independence.
This development is reflected in policy, such as the European Chips Act and the Wennink Report, but also simply in practice. Product development is shifting from separate disciplines to chains in which design, production, and application are closely aligned.
For engineers, this means working less within their own field and looking beyond its boundaries more often. The success of an innovation increasingly depends on how well components fit together. The dividing line between development and integration is becoming smaller. This requires looking beyond one's own discipline or organization.
Anyone visiting WoTS 2026 will see that development reflected on the exhibition floor. Not as an abstract story, but in concrete solutions for complex technological challenges.
The strength lies precisely in that connection. By combining knowledge and specialisms, systems become more robust and the sector as a whole becomes more resilient.
The future demands collaboration that works. That is where the difference in effectiveness and innovation capacity is created.
Andreas Meijer, Director FHI