Arthur del Prado (ASMI founder and ASML co-founder)

Arthur del Prado founded Advanced Semiconductor Materials International (ASMI) in 1968 and grew it into one of Europe's leading semiconductor equipment companies. Del Prado's decision to partner with Philips to create ASML reflected his belief that lithography equipment represented the highest-value segment of the semiconductor equipment market and that a focused joint venture could compete more effectively than either company alone. Del Prado was known in the Dutch technology industry as a persistent and visionary entrepreneur who was willing to absorb short-term losses in pursuit of long-term technological leadership — a philosophy that ASML would embody throughout its history.

Arthur del Prado's contribution to ASML's creation was primarily organizational and financial rather than technical. As founder and controlling shareholder of ASMI, del Prado provided the joint venture's initial corporate structure, governance framework, and access to ASMI's existing customer relationships in the semiconductor equipment industry. His long-term investment orientation, developed over more than 15 years of building ASMI, gave ASML the organizational patience to pursue technology development programs that required years of investment before generating commercial returns. Del Prado served on ASML's supervisory board for many years and was recognized as a foundational figure in the Dutch semiconductor equipment industry until his death in 2018.