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COMS2003 Update
Henne van Heeren
Preparations for the 8th annual Commercialization
of Micro and Nano Systems conference are in full swing. As with
previous conferences, this one promises to give a complete in-depth
overview of the status of the micro and nanotechnologies' commercialization.
COMS2003 Speakers cover the full range of micro- and nanosystems,
representing industrial suppliers, users, academia and governmental
organisations. The COMS Program allows attendees to choose across
numerous industry and commercialization topics including:
- Aerospace / Automotive
- Assembly
- Bio-medical / Pharma
- Commercialisation of Nano
- Consumer Applications
- Design & Manufacturing
- Entrepreneurship
- Equipment
- Foundries
- HARMST
- Markets and Opportunities
- Packaging
- Public Private Partnerships
- Regional Policies / Infrastructure
- Roadmaps
- Standards
- Strategies
- Telecom
- Wireless / RF MEMS
In addition, an exhibition will show the
latest developments in equipment and services. The program offers
ample opportunity to meet your peers and exchange views about the
industry. For more information on attending this conference or participating
in the exhibition, see www.mancef-coms2003.org
or send an email to: info@mancef-coms2003.org
COMS2004 Update
James Wylde
While excitement builds for COMS2003,
MANCEF’s Conference and Workshop Committee has been working
behind the scenes to ensure a successful COMS2004. Two Canadian
cities, Montréal and Edmonton, have submitted proposals. Both cities
are well positioned to offer attendees and exhibitors a stimulating
technical program, interesting exhibits, and great side trips.
Neil Gordon of the NanoBusiness Alliance
and Nick Tasker of DALSA are spearheading the Montréal, Quebec team,
working to bring COMS to the heart of French Canada. Montréal, situated
on the St Lawrence River and in the shadow of Mont Royal, enjoys
a vibrant small tech community; centers of excellence such as the
Canadian Space Agency, DALSA Semiconductor; and leading Canadian
universities, specifically Concordia, École Polytechnique, and McGill.
Chris Lumb of Micralyne, Myron Borys of
Economic Development Edmonton, and Leigh Hill of NanoMEMS are taking
the lead in Edmonton. Edmonton is the center of a fast-growing small
tech cluster in the Canadian West and is situated close to the foothills
of the Rocky Mountains. Small tech enterprise in Edmonton is led
by companies such as Micralyne and BigBangWidth, and is also the
newly selected center for the Canadian National Research Council’s
National Institute of NanoTechnology (NINT). Edmonton is home to
one of the largest engineering departments in Canada at the University
of Alberta.
Conference Summaries
From Albuquerque, NM,
USA - Scott Bryant
The Annual Iberoamerican Research and
Development Summit was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the last
week of May and focused on advanced manufacturing in Micro and Nano
technology. This conference was simulcasted to the attendees in
both English and Spanish and was the world's first Latin American
conference on the science and commercial potential of Micro and
Nano technologies. The state of their respective regional efforts
were provided by: Dr. Dario Francisco Guimaraes de Azevedo, Centro
de Excelência em Tecnologia Electrônica Avancada (CEITEC), Brazil;
Dr. Francelino Lamy de Miranda Grando, Secretaria de Politica Tecnologia
Empresarial, SEPTE, Brazil; Ing. Jaime Parada Avila, Director General,
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Technologia; Dr. Gonzalo Córdoba,
National Secretary, National Department of Science, Technology and
Innovation, Panama; and Pedro León, Director, National center for
High Technology (CENAT), Costa Rica; David Ríos Jara, CIMAV, Mexico;
Guillermo Fernández de la Garza, Exec. Director, US - Mexico Science
Foundation. The United States was represented by Ambassador James
Sweeney; Benjamin H. Wu, Deputy Under Secretary for Technology;
the U.S. Department of Commerce; and by US Senator for New Mexico,
Jeff Bingeman. Senator Bingeman and Undersecretary Wu presented
keynote speeches on the strategic and commercial importance of Microsystems
for the United States and their IberoAmerican national partners.
Keynote addresses by two exceptional commercialization
speakers provided invaluable insight and inspiration for those in
attendance. Dr. Arturo Ayon of Sony Corporation discussed the commercialization
pathway to production of 10 million micro-speaker units, while simultaneously
announcing the bittersweet closure of their Sony San Antonio facilities
and the resultant transfer of production of micro-speakers to Sony
Japan. BEI Inc. founding president, Dr. Asad Madni and Dr. Weiji
Yun discussed a value added pricing approach to developing a company
based on Micro and Nano technology. The duo used BEI's successful,
full circle journey - leaving the aircraft industry to supply sensors
to the automobile industry and ultimately returning to supply sensors
back into aircraft industry - as a case study of the importance
of pricing and execution to Micro-Nano firms.
The conference highlighted Albuquerque's
status as an emerging world leader in Micro-Nano commercialization
facilities, as well as New Mexico's natural affinity as a gateway
for exchange between Ibero-, Latin- and North American Micro-Nano
efforts. Next year's AIRDS 2004 will cover topics related to Micro-Nano
interface in the areas of biomedicine, medical equipment, and genomic
research.
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 The
efforts of the chapter leaders and the contributors
over the past four years have been enormous. With the
assistance of over 400 contributors from four continents
(Asia, Australia, Europe, & North America), the
15 chapters were completed. Through their efforts, we
were able to present the completed roadmap at the COMS
2002 conference in September 2002. Special thanks to
the nearly seventy chapter leaders who worked so hard
to make this possible. Purchase the Micro-Nano Roadmap now.
MANCEF members receive a $200 discount.
How to Order
Internet:
ttp://www.mancef.org/roadmap.htm
Phone: +1-619-232-9499 |
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Conference Summaries
From Cheshire, UK - David Tolfree
A high-level, international conference
on Policy and Infrastructure for the Exploitation of Micro and Nanotechnology
was held at Cranage Hall in Cheshire, England on 6 June 2003. The
conference was sponsored by the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA)
and MANCEF. It was chaired by Lord Wade of Chorlton and organized
and presented by David Tolfree, MANCEF Vice President for Europe.
Featured expert speakers from the USA and Europe attended. Mr. John
Burrows, the Director of Business and Innovation of the Northwest
Development Agency gave the welcome address. David Hughes, the Director
General of Innovation at the Department of Trade and Industry outlined
the U.K. Government's likely response to the need for further action
to support the commercialization of nanotechnology and exploitation
of the existing investments in this area.
A mixed audience of over 70 people attended
the conference, including leaders from regional development agencies,
businesses, industry, and research organizations. They were presented
with policy, infrastructure, commercialization challenges and opportunities.
Quality presentations coupled with active networking in an excellent
country environment made the meeting a milestone event. We've received
very positive feedback from delegates and speakers. This conference,
the first of its kind in the UK, emphasized that full commercialization
requires an infrastructure providing a seamless path from research
and development to product manufacture and market exploitation.
The urgent need of how to address the skills shortage issue was
a foremost concern of many delegates. This and many other questions
concerning infrastructure and commercialization were exchanged with
the speakers.
The global market for microproducts
is growing at an immense rate, and is currently estimated at £40
billion. The NWDA supported this event and its aims because it recognizes
that the economic and social consequences for a market of this size
are unprecedented and cannot be ignored. An infrastructure for micro
and nanotechnology will significantly contribute to regional economic
development. A more detailed report is being prepared for
publicaiton in MST News and Micro Nano journals. In addition,
a separate report intended for circulation to the United Kingdom's
Science Minister Lord Sainsbury and members of the select committee
for Science & Technology in the House of Lords, as well as industry
leaders, is also underway.
Conference Summaries
From Boston, MA, USA
- Roger Grace
MANCEF was one of five sponsors of the
I.E.E.E. Electron Devices Society Transducers'03 conference held
June 8-12. Over 1000 microtechnologists represented North/South
America Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. The meeting also drew
a major academic contingent. MANCEF's sponsored and exhibited at
this conference because it tied in with our strategic plan to support
international conferences where student involvement was encouraged.
It also provided us with an opportunity to meet new people, inform
them of MANCEF's mission and to promote our Roadmaps and COMS 2003.
Ben Hocker (formerly of Honeywell) was
the session chair, Roger Howe (UC Berkeley) the technical chair,
Roger Grace (MANCEF) the development chair, and Steve Senturia (Polychromix)
was the local events chair. 206 technical papers were presented
at forty- four technical sessions in four simultaneous venues. While
virtually all of the papers were technical, Steve Senturia and Gabriel
Rabiz (Univ. of Michigan)presented exceptional "commercialization
themed" papers under the title, "Perspective on MEMS Past
and Future: The Tortuous Pathway from Bright Ideas to Real products",
and "RF MEMS /Switches: Status of the Technology", respectively.
In addition to the technical sessions,
pre-conference short courses were available and a well-subscribed
poster session made the week an information-intensive experience
for attendees. A technical exhibit with 48 exhibitors representing
equipment manufactures, publishers, and other infrastructure supplies,
complemented the technical program.
MANCEF also exhibited at Transducer '03.
As a volunteer-based non-profit organization, MANCEF asks members
to support the foundation with some sweat equity. Roger Grace of
MANCEF, Joe Brown of Suss Microtec, and Nick Tasker of Dalsa were
kind enough to volunteer to provide booth support. Thank you, Joe
and Nick!
The conference was not all work. Boston
weather cooperated and provided enjoyable late Spring temperatures
and conditions. The social program included a Sunday night reception
at the Boston Copeley Marriott, Monday night reception and dinner
at the Boston Museum of Fine Art ( with a preview of the Thomas
Gainsborough exhibition) , a Tuesday evening at the famous Boston
Pops at the historic Symphony Hall and a Wednesday evening dinner
at the Marriott again.
Transducers' 05 will be held in Korea
and Transducers '07 in France.
Conference Summaries
From Monterey, CA, USA
- Steven Walsh
The bi-annual High Aspect Ratio Micro-Structure
Technology (HARMST) conference was chaired by Dr. Jill Hruby, Director
Sandia National Laboratory, and Dr. Jost Göttert, Director CAMD,
on June 15-17 in Monterey, California. This conference was supported
by Sandia National Laboratories, CAMD, Digital Matrix and MANCEF
www.mancef.org. The conference hosted a
range of excellent technical papers on the problems and the progress
in HARM Lithography, replication, electroforming, design and applications,
testing, metrology and standards. Dr. Peter Bley of FZK, the founder
and past chair of the conference and a MANCEF Board member, was
provided with a special award honoring his contributions to the
field.
Commercial Challenges
Faced by HARM Technologies
Photo resist technologies continue to
improve and many companies, specifically Microresist Technology
GmbH, are working with Shipley and Microchem to overcome these challenges
in this arena. Yield and Quality control of LIGA structures continue
to be a problem. Kevin Kelly of International Mezzo Technologies,
Inc. stated the importance of robust molding solutions for LIGA
to capture untapped market potential. Based on experience, he believes
Injection molding can sometimes be better than Embossing during
replication. Volker Saile of Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe said that
the infrastructure for LIGA based MicroOptic and Biomedical applications,
although greatly improved, needs to be sustained. Further, Saile
felt that product design and marketing lag behind other infrastructure
areas.
It was cautioned that LIGA foundries should
ensure customers are not disappointed when they use LIGA for the
first time. The chances of these early customers returning after
a bad experience would be nil. There were many requests for LIGA
technology in the Hannover Fair, 2003 especially in the Medical
arena. However, there are very few commercial products based solely
on HARM-based LIGA, such as the microspectrometer used in the bilirubin
analyzer and zero backlash gears. Hence the steps suggested to popularize
LIGA were :
Nine Proposed Activities
to Overcome Commercial Challenges to HARM - LIGA
- Spend more on R&D to improve Yield.
- Do not wait for customers to give specifications.
A proactive approach is required and cost can be passed on to
the consumer for high quality products.
- The most elegant solution is not always
the best solution to solve customer problems. Highly qualified
scientists should think like engineers.
- Aggressive marketing in engineering
magazines, rather than scientific journals.
- Stress the features and benefits of
the technology, rather than the technology itself.
- MEMS Designers accustomed to Bulk and
Surface Micromachining have to be trained and educated to think
in terms of HARM.
- Concentrate on niche applications.
- A better Cost Model specific to LIGA
has to be worked out.
- Better co-ordination and collaboration
needed among LIGA foundries to ensure that the customer can get
the most out of LIGA in terms of device features and accuracy.
Conference Summaries
From Boston, MA, USA - Roger Grace
| MANCEF
Members Only Special Benefit Conference Presentations
Online
MANCEF members may
access the New England International Nanomanufacturing
Workshop presentations online.
Members will be mailed a web
address, user name, and password separately from the
newsletter. Be looking for it in your e-mail shortly.
This is a benefit of your
paid membership; please do not transfer the proceedings
to non-MANCEF members. |
|
The 1st New England International Nanomanufacturing
Workshop was held at Northeastern University in Boston,
Massachusetts on June 17/18. Professor Ahmed Busnaina, Northeastern
University, developed and chaired the workshop, which was co-hosted
by Northeastern University, the University of New Hampshire, and
the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. MANCEF and the Massachusetts
Technology Collaborative were sponsors. The workshop theme was "Breaking
the Barriers to Nanomanufacturing to Enable the Commercialization
of Nanotechnology".
The workshop provided the opportunity for 17
international speakers to share some of their current research activities
in the area of Nanotechnology, including "Report on the January
2003 NSF Nanomanufacturiung Workshop" by Professor Busnaina;
"Overview of Nanomanufacturing Programs of NSF", by Haris
Doumanidis, NSF Nanotechnology Manufacturing Program Manager; "High-Rate,
High-Volume Nanomanufacturing of Polymers" by Professor Joey
Mead of the University of Massachusetts Lowell; "Production
of Patterned Electrospray Fiber Structures" by Phil Gibson
of the US Army Natick (Massachusetts) Libratory; "Nano Mechatronics"
by Chang-Soo Han of the Korean Institute of Machinery and Materials;
"Manufacturable Surface Modification of Micro/nano Electro
Mechanical System" by Jin-Goo Park of Hanyang University (Korea).
In addition, three panel sessions were conducted covering significant
areas of nanotechnology commercialization. Over 70 attendees including
many students from the three co- sponsoring universities were present
for the event, which included a small exhibit and a student poster
paper session.
MANCEF president, Roger Grace, was the lead introductory
speaker for the Tuesday June 17 schedule with a presentation entitled
"An Updated Industry Report Card on the Commercialization of
Microsystems: Lessons to be Learned from a Big Brother". The
presentation compared and contrasted barriers that have faced the
MEMS/MST industry in the past and then related them to the Nano
industry.
Tuesday panels included one devoted to
nanomanufacturing tools where MANCEF Board advisors Tom Cellucci
(Zyvex) and Bob Sulouff (Analog Devices) were panelists. Roger Grace
was a panelist on the Investment in Nanotechnology session. The
Wednesday panel addressed the topic "Reliability in Nanomanufacturing".
This was a most successful event with plans to create a "second"
conference in the June 2004 time-frame in the New England area.
For more information, please contact Professor Busnaina at busnaina@coe.neu.edu.
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