Innovation in higher education: Specificity of the microelectronics field

Abstract

The expected development of connected objects appears as a key factor of the future worldwide economy. The field of microelectronics is primarily concerned by this evolution because the connected objects involve the microelectronics industry and related research. In addition, the spectrum of the application domains can be very wide and the multidisciplinary approach appears mandatory. In parallel, the evolution of the microelectronics towards a larger integration implies new designs, and new technologies that must be assimilated by the students. The main challenge, today, is to give to these students and future engineers, the methodology and the know-how that can insure an innovative approach, by changing the educational structures and the behavior of the professorial body, while in the same time, the education systems want to massively introduce numerical tools. As a result, the introduction of new practices and laboratory works becomes increasingly useful, more especially in microelectronics. Indeed, this is a way to give to the students the knowledge and the know-how with an innovative behavior. However, the practice on microelectronic platforms is very expensive and the sharing of this equipment between several institutions is necessary. The French national network, CNFM (National Coordination for Education in Microelectronics and nanotechnologies), which pilots the 12 national platforms, tries to answer to these needs and has set-up a policy deliberately focused on innovative practices on dedicated platforms. Several suggestions are given in order to improve the educational system and create a model which could be duplicated in many other countries.