Economic mission semiconductor industry and photonics to the United States and Canada

Are you active internationally in the semiconductor industry or in photonics? And are you interested in your business opportunities in the United States and/or Canada? Or do you want to explore the innovation ecosystem there? Then sign up for this economic mission to Connecticut, the State of New York, and Ontario.

One or more government officials partake in this mission.

Additionally, the mission programme includes a brief meeting for some companies with His Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Máxima, who will be visiting New York State during the same period.

Ingrid Thijssen, chairperson of VNO-NCW, will participate in some parts of the mission program. Marc Hendrikse, figurehead of the high-tech systems and materials (HTSM) top sector, is the business mission leader.

For whom?

This mission is of interest to startups, scale-ups, SMEs, multinational corporations, and knowledge institutions based in the Netherlands that are active in:

• Equipment for semiconductor production;
• Integrated photonics;
• Chip design (with special attention to applications of artificial intelligence);
• Advanced packaging.

Diversity within a mission delegation is important to achieve results in the United States and Canada. Therefore, we are happy to assemble a delegation with participants who differ in gender, background, and age and who work for different types of companies and knowledge institutions. All of this may be taken into account in the selection of participants.

Are you an entrepreneurial woman with international ambitions? The government is committed to promoting diversity and therefore also encourages female entrepreneurs to operate internationally through the Grow across Borders campaign. Companies that engage in international business are more productive, innovative, and successful. By participating in this mission, you expand your network and increase your international opportunities.

Why participate?

During this mission, we will explore opportunities for increased cooperation in trade, investment, and innovation. You will also have time for networking.

The states of New York and Connecticut are significant players in research, design, and manufacturing of semiconductors. They have invested heavily in their innovative ecosystem. The Canadian province of Ontario borders these states. Ontario is a global leader in semiconductor and photonics research. The startup industry is booming in the Canadian city of Toronto.

By participating in this mission, you can:

• Gain insight into the local ecosystem; Explore your market opportunities and possibilities for collaboration;
• Meet new business partners and/or improve existing contacts;
• Expand your network and exchange knowledge;
• Interact with American and Canadian governments;
• Increase your visibility and establish yourself as a key player.

You may also, for example, sign contracts, a letter of intent, or a memorandum of understanding in the presence of a government official, which provides additional visibility for your investment or project.

Market opportunities for the semiconductor industry and photonics Dutch companies and knowledge institutions can collaborate more with parties in Wilton, Albany, Rochester, and the Canadian region of Toronto. There are particularly good opportunities in the development of semiconductors and photonics.

During the mission, we will explore opportunities for collaboration in these regions. We also encourage Canadian and American companies to do business in the Netherlands.

Market opportunities for semiconductor industry and photonics

Dutch companies and knowledge institutions can collaborate more with parties in Wilton, Albany, Rochester, and the Canadian region of Toronto. There are particular opportunities in the development of semiconductors and photonics.

During the mission, we will investigate possibilities for cooperation in these regions. We also encourage Canadian and American companies to do business in the Netherlands.

Market opportunities for the semiconductor industry and photonics

Dutch companies and knowledge institutions will get the chance to collaborate with parties in Wilton, Albany, Rochester, and the Canadian region of Toronto. There are particularly opportunities in the development of semiconductors and photonics.

During the mission, we will explore opportunities for collaboration in these regions. We also encourage Canadian and American companies to do business in the Netherlands.

More reasons to do business in the United States and Canada

The US has announced the first chip subsidies under the CHIPS and Science Act. These are subsidies to modernise, expand, or build semiconductor production facilities. For example, a subsidy of $1.5 billion was given to GlobalFoundries (based in New York). These subsidies create market opportunities and collaboration possibilities, also with foreign companies and knowledge institutions.

New York State, Connecticut, and Ontario, Canada align the demand for Research & Development in semiconductors with ecological sustainability. For example, New York offers $10 billion for the sustainability of semiconductor production and the entire supply chain. The mission program includes a seminar on sustainable production and applications of semiconductors. You will explore your opportunities there and learn from practical stories.

Dutch companies offer expertise and experience in key parts of the semiconductor supply chain. American manufacturers are looking for partners to further develop and scale. For example, in areas such as new tooling and machinery and talent development.

The Toronto region has a lot of expertise and many companies in semiconductor and hardware engineering. There are also various producers. Toronto has the largest concentration of semiconductor companies in Canada. Therefore, the region is suitable for partnerships and collaboration with Dutch companies.

Concept programme

This economic mission will take place from Sunday, 9 June to Friday, 14 June 2024. We will first visit Connecticut, then the New York State, and finally Ontario in Canada.

The programme consists of the following parts:

• Kick-off
• Informative seminars and briefings by experts
• Visits to important companies, knowledge and research institutions
• Networking events
• Trade reception
• Signing agreements and declarations of intent
• Debriefing

Below, you will find the draft programme. We will announce the extensive program later.

Concept programme

Sunday June 9

Netherlands and New Haven

• Flight from Amsterdam to New York (you will receive flight advice but will travel on your own)
• Transfer from airport in New York to New Haven
• Informal welcome at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel in New Haven

Monday June 10

New Haven

• Official opening / kick-off of this mission
• The semiconductor ecosystem in Connecticut
• Networking session with companies and knowledge institutes (including optics, integrated photonics research and precision production)
• Visit to ASML
• Overnight stay at the hotel in New Haven

Tuesday June 11

New Haven and Albany

• Visit to IBM Research
• Visit to Albany NanoTech Complex
• The semiconductor ecosystem in New York State
• Networking session
• Transfer to Albany and overnight stay at the hotel in Albany

Wednesday June 12

Albany and Rochester

• Visit to GlobalFoundries
• Seminar
• Trade reception
• Transfer to Rochester and overnight stay at the hotel in Rochester

Thursday June 13

Rochester and Toronto

• Visit to AIM Photonics Testing and Advanced Packaging Facility
• Transfer from Rochester to Toronto, Canada
• The semiconductor ecosystem in Canada
• Networking session
• Visit to VentureLab
• Hotel overnight stay in Toronto

Friday June 14

Toronto and the Netherlands

• Company visit
• Networking session
• Debriefing
• Flight from Toronto to Amsterdam*

* This mission to the US and Canada ends on Friday, 14 June in Toronto. The Collision technology fair will take place in the same city from Monday 17 June to Thursday 20 June. You can choose to also participate in this technology fair. Here, you can present yourself at one of North America’s largest high-tech events. Interested?

Join the Dutch delegation to Collision

Participation and costs

Participation costs €950 per organisation.

Due to limited capacity, only 1 person per organisation can participate in this mission.

What is Included: participation in collective programme components, local support by the organisation, and local bus transportation (linked to the mission programme).

Travel and accommodation costs and personal transfers are at your own expense and risk. After your confirmation of participation, you will receive suggestions for your trip and accommodation.

To register

Join this economic mission for the semiconductor industry and photonics to Connecticut, the State of New York and Ontario.

You can register until 21 April 2024 at the latest.

Participation in this mission is exclusively open to Dutch organisations that fit within the above-mentioned setup and substantive focus of this economic mission. Registration and the automatic receipt of confirmation do not mean that you are automatically admitted to the economic mission.

A limited number of spots (25 to 30) are available for this mission. If there are too many registrations, a selection will be made. We will take into account the mentioned areas within the semiconductor industry and your demonstrable market opportunities for doing business with the US and Canada. You must be a complement to the semiconductor ecosystem as a participant and contribute to the diversity of the mission delegation, as diversity is important for doing business in the US and Canada.

You will receive a final confirmation of participation after the registration period closes.

Learn more here.

Want to know more?

Do you have any questions about this mission?

Please contact:

Margriet Veenstra, Missions project manager at RVO

E: margriet.veenstra@rvo.nl

Marianne van Male, Missions project manager at RVO

E: marianne.vanmale@rvo.nl

Corporate Social Responsibility

The Dutch government considers corporate social responsibility (CSR) – including human rights – important and endorses the OECD guidelines for multinational companies on corporate social responsibility.

Compliance with these OECD guidelines is one of the conditions for participating in this mission.

On the instructions of:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs