The NXP Foundation, a non-profit organization of NXP Semiconductors, is providing $450,000 to Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), Austria for scholarships and lab equipment. The donation will help attract more young talent to the STEM field, promote local development and further expand engagement at the Graz site. The newly opened NXP office in the Data House on Inffeldgasse campus will also further strengthen a cooperative relationship between the university and other electronic players.
Scholarships for Master Students
On November 13, NXP Austria CTO, Wolfgang Steinbauer, officially presented this funding gift to TU Graz Rector, Horst Bischof, at the TU Graz Data House. Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Provincial Minister for Economy, Science and Research, was also in attendance. The donation comprises of $225,000 in grants to fund Master scholarships in information security, as well as measures to publicize and promote them. The other $225,000 will go towards the establishment of a laboratory for ultra-wideband technology (UWB) at TU Graz’s Institute for Communication Networks and Satellite Communication. Along with the donation, NXP also submitted a written declaration of intent to participate in the funding of a women's professorship in the field of Integrated Circuits and Systems. The seminar room sponsorship at the Institute of Technical Informatics in Inffeldgasse was also extended.
UWB Technology: Innovations in Communication, Localisation and Sensor Technology
UWB technology enables extremely precise localization as well as fast data transmissions over short distances. The new UWB measurement laboratory is intended to promote innovation and UWB application in areas such as communications, positioning and sensor technology. For example, testing localization algorithms. The funds are designated primarily for the financing of laboratory equipment to measure system performances, such as optical tracking systems.
“TU Graz is known far beyond the borders of Styria and Austria as an outstanding training location for technical and scientific studies. NXP's donation underscores this and will help TU Graz to further expand its offerings in the all-important STEM field,” says Provincial Councilor, Barbara Eibinger-Miedl.
“This donation will allow us to provide exciting research opportunities for our local engineering talent in Austria,” says Wolfgang Steinbauer, CTO NXP Austria. “This project is extremely close to our hearts. We are very proud of it, because we can combine the innovative strength of NXP and TU Graz and simultaneously be involved in promoting science, engineering and mathematics locally.”
Situating High-tech Companies at Campus Inffeldgasse
“We are particularly pleased with NXP's support of young technical talent at the bachelor's and master's level; it makes an important contribution to the high-quality education of our young STEM talent,” says TU Graz Rector, Horst Bischof. “At the same time, by situating high-tech companies like NXP on our campus, we succeed in driving innovation at the interface of science and industry and spurring technology transfer.”
“Our donation is primarily to be seen as start-up funding, because we hope that our example will inspire many more sponsors to support scholarship holders at TU Graz in the future. Additionally, we want to help make the location even more attractive for talented students from around the world,”, says Markus Stäblein, CEO NXP Austria. “Graz is NXP's home in Austria and we feel a deep connection to the university and the city. We have already formed close partnerships with a number of higher education institutions here, so it was a particular desire for us to support TU Graz.”
