Eindhoven Technical University, a crucial supplier of personnel for the manufacturer of ASML Holding NV chip equipment, has shut down its IT systems in response to cyberattacks.
Lectures and educational events are suspended until at least January 14. The university stated that disconnecting the network was a necessary step to prevent serious consequences.
Experts are currently investigating the nature and extent of the hacking. University representatives reported suspicious server activity on the evening of January 11, but they have had no contact with the hackers, and the identity of the culprits remains unknown. It is uncertain whether any data was compromised.
The university had already attracted attention due to escalating tensions in the semiconductor sector between the United States and China. The U.S. has been seeking to restrict China’s access to chip production technologies, increasing the strategic importance of the university and its partnership with ASML.
ASML is the sole supplier of advanced lithography machines worldwide, crucial for creating high-tech chips used in electronics and the military industry. ASML has been actively investing in collaboration with the university, allocating €80 million in May for training doctoral students and upgrading cleanrooms essential for research. ASML equipment has been installed in laboratories for scientific experiments.