Pushing the boundaries of innovation

At ASM, we are committed to improving people’s lives everywhere. Our technologies for developing microchips open up new possibilities for key digital applications like AI, electric vehicles, and next-gen communications. One crucial partner in our efforts to make the impossible possible is the University of Helsinki.??

For 20 years, ASM has been supporting PhD projects at the University to develop new insights and solutions that move our industry forward. The students get to publish their findings in top-tier journals, and ASM makes their breakthroughs part of our evolving R&D program.??

We recently took the chance to talk to two bright young minds at ASM about innovation, what makes the work challenging, what makes it fun, and the collaborative spirit that supports our company’s unwavering drive to innovate.?

Leena works in IP and Elisa is a former PhD program student and currently an engineer; both are based at ASM in Finland.?

1. What do you do in your day job at ASM??

Leena: I joined ASM in July of 2022, and one of my responsibilities is to take care of the IP generated in the collaboration projects with University of Helsinki. It’s exciting to see novel ideas get developed, challenged, and eventually incorporated and protected by a patent – every day brings new surprises.?

Elisa: I started in November 2023, the same month I defended my PhD thesis at the University of Helsinki. During my PhD studies I had already collaborated with ASM as I worked on a research project they funded. Thanks to that experience, I had a very smooth start at ASM, where I now develop and optimize various manufacturing processes.?

2. What does innovation mean to you and how do you foster it in your work??

Leena: Protecting innovation is the core of my work in IP. I support novel ideas and inventions by maintaining an open dialogue with our inventors, encouraging them to think outside the box, and providing guidance on how to transform their concepts into patentable inventions.?

Elisa: For me, innovation is about embracing the unexpected and finding value in new discoveries. Sometimes the most exciting breakthroughs come from results that initially seem like dead ends. I foster innovation by being curious, questioning assumptions, and staying open to exploring new avenues when the data points in a surprising direction.?

3. What collaboration challenges did you face and how did you overcome them??

Elisa: When I joined the ASM collaboration project during my PhD studies, I had very little knowledge of the practical aspects of patenting. It was a steep learning curve, but I quickly gained valuable insights – which has been vital in my current role.??

Leena: A big challenge in my role is bridging the gap between technical expertise and legal or commercial knowledge. I know all about the patenting process, but I rely on the inventors to supply the technical insights. It’s a two-way street: I educate them on the legal and strategic aspects of patenting, and they educate me on the intricacies of their inventions.?

4. What aspect of your work do you find most enjoyable??

Elisa: That’s easy: seeing an idea come to fruition and witnessing its practical application. It’s thrilling to develop an innovative new approach, test it through experimentation, and then see it work successfully in a real-world setting. It’s such a rewarding feeling to contribute to advancing the state of the art in the industry.?

Leena: What I find most enjoyable is the constant learning opportunities. Every invention is unique, with its own technical complexities and legal nuances. Working with inventors like Elisa allows me to expand my knowledge base, in terms of both science and intellectual property law. It’s a dynamic environment where no two days are the same.

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