ASML CEO Peter Wennink calls for a better vision on global challenges to stay relevant

"Huge global transitions are ongoing". Peter Wennink sees the global issues as big challenges, but not only as a isolated problems to be solved. The value generation opportunities from these shifts and changes are huge. The US and East Asia are positioning themselves as new leaders in a new world order, with visions on how to dominate in automotive, in technology for the energy transition, in digitization. Will Europe still have a role? Will we stay relevant? Will the Netherlands be able to safeguard welfare if we may loose our negotiation position in a global economy?

ASML says it wants to take co-responsibility in creating a safe environment for employees and other citizens, including access to affordable housing, faster international hiring, good infrastructure. To Jean-Paul Linnartz on Radio 4 Brainport that sounded like the early days of Philips taking care of the entire life of employees, but Peter Wennink does not want be paternalistic. He makes a plea for a grant vision, with collaboration among industry, academia and the government.

Also, global crises need a system vision, and strong cooperations, not point solutions. Starting a lab at the university is an example to setting up collaborations. Yet, proprietary knowledge is highly critical to keeps ASML's leading role. Can open innovation work for ASML? Or, is it a must in a global race to pre-sort as a leader rather than becoming irrelevant?

Photo: Bart van Overbeeke