Dutch technology company ASML wins Dutch Innovation Prize 2021
ASML, a Veldhoven-based company that manufactures compact silicon microchips, has been named the winner of the Dutch Innovation Prize 2021 during the 4th National BID AVROTROS Innovation Dinner at Kasteel Wittenburg in Wassenaar.
The winner of the Dutch Innovation Prize 2021 is based on the results of the Dutch Innovation Monitor, an initiative conducted by the Amsterdam Center for Business Innovation of the University of Amsterdam.
The Dutch company was announced as a winner during the AVROTROS television program ‘De Winnaar van Morgen’ on October 25th.
The contenders for the Dutch Innovation Prize 2021 were ASML, Blender, Ecoplant, Elestor, MosaMeat, RobotWise, Stamicarbon, The Protein Brewery, Visma Connect, and QLayers.
Out of the list, ASML, Ecoplant, and QLayers took the top three spots, respectively. The top three nominations were awarded by an expert jury, each unique or leading in their field.
Why ASML?
The jury praised ASML for its unique market position in combination with its unique approach to achieving that position. This market position is based on the numerous innovations that have been produced, including in the field of extreme UV light.
Henk Volberda, chairman of the jury of the Dutch Innovation Prize 2021 and professor of Strategy & Innovation at the University of Amsterdam says, “The winner of the Dutch Innovation Prize 2021 is able to promote its leading market position by actively focusing on innovation. The attention to innovation is reflected in practically all parts of the organisation and even beyond the borders of the own company. This makes it the world market leader in a technologically highly competitive market.”
He adds, “Given the rapid technological developments of chip machines, partners in the network must constantly innovate. ASML is the central director of the production network, the R&D consortium, and the assembly process in this network. All in all, ASML is a Dutch figurehead of innovation.”
ASML: What you need to know
Founded by Martin van den Brink in 1984, ASML is the provider of lithography systems for the semiconductor industry, manufacturing complex machines that are critical to the production of integrated circuits or chips.
The company’s key technology brings high-tech hardware and advanced software together to control the chip manufacturing process down to the nanometer. ASML is traded on Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ under the symbol ASML.