Bar for contamination control higher than ever

Although we can characterise the past few years as turbulent and uncertain, weighed down by material shortages, cost increases, the energy and nitrogen crisis and labour shortages, something is striking: for many organisations in the world of high-tech, life sciences and quantum, exponential growth is the key word. And not just for the top players, but within the entire chain.

Growing demands in high-tech

Whoever says high-tech quickly mentions ASML: supplier of machines for the semiconductor industry used in making chips. NPO Knowledge states that around 85 per cent of the chips in our smartphones, computers, cars, home appliances and aeroplanes worldwide are made with an ASML machine. And the end is nowhere near. Almost daily, we see news reports about the Veldhoven-based company's growth. About new investments and even geopolitical considerations.

ASML's growth directly affects a large part of the Brainport region. The huge demand for increasingly sophisticated chips obviously has direct consequences for the high-tech suppliers with which AMSL works very closely. For instance, airborne molecular contamination (AMC) is now a growing challenge. Defects lurk in every part of chip production - which sometimes includes hundreds of steps - no matter how small the contamination. As a result, the set of requirements a supplier must meet is growing. Those who go along with this also face large investments themselves. In better process controls and even cleaner cleanrooms, for instance.

Life sciences innovations

Technological innovations and the emergence of many startups also ensured that the life sciences sector grew strongly in recent years. This is not surprising, knowing that this sector is about our most important asset - health - and aims to realise solutions that contribute to longer healthy lives. A theme closely related to Kuijpers' own ambition to pass on a better and healthier world to future generations. But whether it concerns pharma, biotech, medical research or medical devices, for every organisation, developments follow each other in rapid succession. We saw it in the creation of mRNA vaccines, used in the fight against COVID-19. But also with Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), highly innovative drugs that represent a turnaround in the pharmaceutical landscape. This not only demands something of the environment in which we work - usually heavily regulated with specialised, high-end equipment - but also of our mindset: it is not only important to keep up, but to continuously accelerate without compromising quality.

On the eve of a quantum revolution

And when it comes to accelerating, quantum technology is perhaps the most relevant topic. Around the world, governments and companies are investing in research. Together, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and Quantum Delta NL have already invested millions of euros to realise scientific and technological breakthroughs in the field of quantum technology. In the process, young talent was explicitly encouraged to contribute as well. The reason is clear: with the development of the quantum computer, we are on the eve of a technological revolution.

Unimaginable computing power offers us the prospect of solving complex problems that are intractable for classical computers. The potential consequence? A major impact on our industry and society as well as an ultra-fast approach to societal challenges in areas such as energy, climate, food, healthcare, security and data management. Getting there again requires highly specialised environments: physical laboratories with highly sophisticated equipment. Take, for example, a cryolab, where cooling systems cool qubits to -273°C.

Specialist knowledge throughout the chain

Contamination control is a hot topic in almost every industrial market these days. But for organisations in the world of high-tech, life sciences and quantum - where developments are occurring at an unprecedented pace and processes are extremely precarious - it is perhaps more important than ever. With machines and processes becoming increasingly sensitive, any contamination increases the likelihood of system or process failures. The bar for cleanliness standards is higher than ever, both for manufacturers and suppliers. This not only affects the entire chain, but also requires highly specialised knowledge within the entire chain. Because not only researchers and producers have to be skilled and decisive, but also the experts responsible for connecting and installing all critical equipment.

It is therefore important that we build a solid bridge between all partners who have a piece of the process in their hands. That we are open about our specialist knowledge, so that together we are able to maintain the speed. After all, we are committed partners who, in the field of high-tech, life sciences and quantum, all have the same goal in mind: full speed ahead and ready for the future.

Paul Joosten - Market Director Life Sciences & Hightech