“Dream of a Story” – CTO Lars Reger on 15 Years of NXP

“Look at your assets, then dream of a story,” began NXP’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Lars Reger when he sat down with us to recount the company’s 15-year growth trajectory to our position today as a semiconductor powerhouse, creating leading systems and solutions in multiple markets and industries. “That’s where it started, that’s how NXP grew, we looked at what we had, what we wanted, and then worked out how to get there,” Lars recalls.

Lars Reger

In his position as NXP’s CTO and resident futurologist, Lars Reger considers “removing barriers” for our employees as one of his most important tasks.

NXP: What kind of barriers do you try to remove?

Lars Reger: We have around 11,000 engineers in the company out of approximately 30,000 employees. For them I try to remove all barriers for them so they can optimally perform, in the best environment, with minimal unnecessary stress. In principle, treating others the way you want to be treated. Beyond our functional role, every one of us has a big responsibility as a manager to really move the needle for the company. And that does not stop at the boundaries of what we are doing technically.

NXP: What were the most important technological advances that NXP played a big role in over the last 15 years?

LR: Our broadening of the microcontroller portfolio, our EDGE device portfolio growth, also with AI and machine learning. With the merge, we had a portfolio that was complete for all smart, connected devices: sense, think, connect, act, safety and security. That had great positive implications. I am very proud of the transition into complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) based radar systems, with which I was deeply and personally involved. Then we have our car radio platforms, with a single chip the size of your thumbnail, an extremely cool accomplishment. There are many things that we have achieved. Assisted Ambient Living for the elderly is a big topic for us, us as well as our very advanced innovative magnetic induction radios for hearing aids and chips that are employed in breathalyzers and equipment used to treat COVID patients.

NXP: Where do you see nxp in another 15 years?

LR: Well I hope I’ll still be on board, because that should be around my retirement year. I want to leave this company on a technical high, with it right at the peak of market success. I hope we’re the undisputed master for smart, connected robotic devices, and that all the devices in my life, around me are on NXP silicon, or at least with some NXP IP in them.”

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