Contaminants are harmful in high-tech applications because they reduce the efficiency and life of machine parts. Contamination can be prevented by using appropriate materials, clean gases and ensuring parts are properly cleaned, manufactured, assembled and inspected. In other words, for optimal contamination control, the entire life cycle of a system must be considered. This lecture will focus on contamination control, presented through several  applications in the semiconductor and analytical industry in the different phases of the life cycle. Concluding, Kasper will show what groundbreaking research we do at VDL Enabling Technologies Group to meet the ever stricter requirements.