Van den Brink's lecture was entitled 'The battle between exponential functions: AI, supercomputers, chips and lithography supported by holistic lithography'. He started with an explanation of exponential functions using Dragon's Beard candy, which is known for its many strands. The number of strands increases exponentially during the candy’s preparation. 

Meet the enormous demand

He then explained how current trends in AI create enormous demand and encounter limitations, particularly in the areas of energy consumption and memory. This makes innovations in the semiconductor industry essential. Van den Brink explained how ASML has realized several improvements in lithography to meet the growing demand.  

Don't be afraid

He concluded with the message that people should enjoy exponential functions and not be afraid of them. Van den Brink also talked about the collaboration with ARCNL and emphasised the importance of a balance between giving people the freedom to think outside the box and staying within budget. After handing out Dragon's Beard candy, the colloquium came to an end.