Ex-ASML CEO: Deep technology will turn the impossible into reality.

      After guiding Dutch semiconductor giant ASML to become the most valuable tech company in Europe, Peter Wennink is now concentrating on the future of deep tech.

      Throughout his 25-year career at ASML—including over ten years as CEO—Wennink has played a significant role in numerous advancements in this sector, establishing the groundwork for many deep tech innovations. Under his leadership, ASML gained recognition as the exclusive supplier and manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, crucial for producing the world's most advanced chips. These machines have become integral to the current AI surge, powering various technologies from ChatGPT to brain-computer interfaces.

      ASML has also prolonged the relevance of Moore’s Law, the principle that the number of transistors on chips doubles approximately every two years. This exponential progress has spurred groundbreaking developments that once seemed impossible. Wennink believes that the forthcoming innovations may be even more challenging to conceptualize.

      “It’s challenging for humanity to predict the effects of exponential growth because it often results in seemingly unattainable achievements,” he told TNW. “Yet, that’s precisely what science and deep tech are capable of, making the impossible achievable.”

      At the TNW Conference in Amsterdam on June 20, Wennink will present his vision for a new wave of innovation.

      In an exclusive session titled “Gods of Industry: The Battle for Deep Tech Dominance,” he will share the stage with Young Sohn, a digital pioneer and former President and Chief Strategy Officer at Samsung Electronics. Sohn is currently the founding managing partner at Walden Catalyst Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on deep tech.

      Together, they will explore the next decade of innovations and provide insights into the future of tech leadership. During Wennink’s time at ASML, the company established itself as a leader in the field, with its machines producing chips for a wide range of advanced devices, from iPhones to autonomous vehicles.

      ASML has also contributed to the wider deep tech ecosystem, supporting DeepTechXL, a Dutch fund that raised €110 million last year, and playing a significant role in Brainport Eindhoven, which Wennink describes as “probably unique” in the realm of deep tech.

      Since retiring from ASML last year, Wennink has continued to be an influential figure in the industry. He believes that the upcoming wave of deep tech will unveil possibilities that may currently seem inconceivable. This path may require navigating complex routes from laboratory to market, deep domain expertise, and patient investment, but the potential returns will be truly transformative. At the TNW Conference, Wennink will provide a preview of what lies ahead.

      Peter Wennink will be part of a crowded lineup at the TNW Conference, set to occur on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets are now available for purchase, and using the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at checkout offers a 30% discount.