How do you deploy AI talent for real challenges from the high-tech industry? On Thursday 4 June, fourteen student teams from Radboud University gave a convincing answer to this during the final presentations of the student challenges within Applied Machine Learning for Industries.
The challenges are part of the Master of Artificial Intelligence at Radboud University and bring students in direct contact with business issues. This year, the teams worked on assignments from companies in the Lifeport Semicon Industries network, including ASMPT, Nexperia and Imec. Under the guidance of associate professor Mahyar Shahsavari, they developed machine learning solutions for current real-world challenges.
Promising results for the semicon sector
During the final presentations, the results were enthusiastically received by the companies present. The developed models showed how artificial intelligence can contribute to more efficient processes, better analyses and smarter decision-making within the semicon industry. Several companies spoke of promising outcomes that, after further validation and testing on additional datasets, could potentially be further developed towards practical application.
Student presentations 4 June 2026
Working with real data
For the students, it was precisely the practice-oriented nature that was an important added value. Instead of academic datasets, they worked with real industrial data and imagery from the high-tech sector. This brought new challenges, but at the same time gave a realistic picture of the complexity and possibilities of AI applications within industry.
The importance of this approach was also stressed from the university. Allowing students to work on concrete issues from industry creates a valuable interaction between academic knowledge and industrial innovation.
Building the future of High Tech and Semicon together
The student challenges show how education and business can strengthen each other. Companies gain access to new insights and innovative ideas, while students gain experience with the technologies, datasets and issues at play within the High Tech and Semicon sector.
The positive reactions from students, teachers and companies make it clear that this cooperation tastes like more. The ambition is to offer new challenges next academic year as well, thus connecting even more AI talent to the region's innovation challenges.
This collaboration between education and business was set up by OnePlanet.
