Andra Ioana Bornea

ECSA Student Ambassadors at SEMICON Europa for the very first time — wow! And not just attending, but also hosting our own session. Standing on that stage felt like a milestone not only for the program, but for each of us who has been part of this growing community. As I said during my speech, it was a big moment — one we were genuinely grateful for.

At SEMICON, I found myself in rooms where top policymakers, industry leaders, and geopolitical experts were discussing the future of the semiconductor landscape. Hearing firsthand how global silicon strategies are shaped — and Europe’s position within them — was both eye-opening and motivating.

The networking night was an unforgettable highlight. Not only were we among the youngest people in the room, but industry professionals approached us, curious to hear our stories and willing to share their advice. A special moment was speaking with Jochen Hanebeck, CEO of Infineon, who encouraged us to keep building connections and to continue strengthening this emerging European student network.

Another key highlight was having Bernard Capraro as our mentor throughout those days. Thanks to him, we had the opportunity to speak directly with professionals from three major companies in the industry: Edwards Vacuum, RECIF Technologies, and TEL (Tokyo Electron Limited). I found it fascinating to observe the contrast between the perspectives of large multinational corporations and those of an SME working hard to compete in the same ecosystem with far fewer resources.

Moreover, Bernie spent nearly an hour with each of us individually, discussing career paths, the importance of adaptability, how to cultivate an open-minded attitude, when to pursue opportunities, as well as why political differences should never damage friendships or professional relationships. He listened patiently, answered our many questions, and offered valuable insights into every topic we were curious about. It was true mentorship.

And then came the big day — our session. Moderating the first session ever dedicated to students at SEMICON Europa, “From Classroom to Cleanroom: Building the Talent Pipeline” felt like the culmination of everything the Student Ambassador Program stands for: student voices, collaboration, motivation, and the recognition that the next generation truly matters. Seeing a room full of people sincerely interested in what young researchers have to say was incredibly empowering.

Looking back, SEMICON was not just an event — it was confirmation. A confirmation for myself that I want to build a career in the semiconductor industry, and a confirmation that our work as Student Ambassadors matters and produces change, and that Europe’s future needs us — our curiosity, creativity, energy, and our commitment.

I am deeply thankful for every moment of this experience, for everyone I met, and for the community that continues to shape my journey. And I cannot wait to see where we, as students and future engineers, go from here.

 

Laura Sondakh

I enjoyed visiting SEMICON together with other student ambassadors. I had a blast getting to know them, as well as Hanna-Maryia and Victoria. The week was very inspiring and motivating, as it showed me different sides of the industry I was not aware of before. In particular, I loved getting an insight into the different European projects supporting the industry and STEM education. My favorite activity was for sure taking over the ECSA Instagram for a day!

 

Nassim Beladel

Through SEMICON, I got to engage with people working in all sections of the semiconductor device industry, including the policy sector. I was particularly interested in the geopolitical dimension behind semiconductor technologies, which we do not normally engage with within our studies; SEMICON helped me obtain a deeper understanding of the field at large as well as its political undercurrents. The best part of this opportunity, however, was the chance to connect with fellow student ambassadors in person. There is a breadth of experiences everyone brings along, and I genuinely enjoyed the company of like-minded peers from whom I could learn a lot too.

 

 

Vuk Vulevic

For me being at SEMICON was a great pleasure, it left an excellent overall impression. The event provided an outstanding opportunity to meet more professionals from the industry and to learn from their experiences and insights.

 

 

Octavian Axinte

Attending SEMICON as an ECSA Student Ambassador was genuinely eye-opening. I came away with a real sense of just how massive and relevant the semiconductor industry actually is. What struck me most was discovering all the pilot production lines and foundry resources scattered across Europe that are actually accessible to startups and smaller players, not just the big corporations. But honestly, the best part was hanging out with the other ambassadors and hearing about all the fascinating projects they’re working on.

 

Andras Meszaros

To me, SEMICON felt like a miracle unfolding in real time. It was science and engineering coming alive at the massive scale of the expo. But the highlight was having the platform to present my own ideas on the future of students in this industry.

 

 

 

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