Micromachine Center (MMC) is involved in various activities in order to establish technological basis of future Micromachine / MEMS devices, as well as to develop MEMS / Micromachine industries.

 Main activities of MMC are as follows.
National R & D Project
(1) fineMEMS Project (2006-2008)
(2) MEMS-ONE Project (2004-2006)
(3) MEMS Project (2003~2005)
(4) Micromachine Technology Project (1991-2000)
MEMS Standardization
Exhibition MICROMACHINE/MEMS with International Symposium
MEMS Market in Japan
MEMS Industry Forum Japan


National R & D Project

 Since 1992 MMC has been mainly involved in 4 national R&D projects, aimed to establish new technological basis in cooperation with companies, universities, national research institutes.
(1) fineMEMS Project (2006-2008)
(2) MEMS-ONE Project (2004-2006)
(3) MEMS Project (2003~2005)
(4) Micromachine Technology Project (1991-2000)
 

 Moreover, these R&D projects are expected to contribute a great deal to further expansion of MEMS / Micromachine industries.
 

(1) fineMEMS Project (2006-2008)




 

(2) MEMS-ONE Project (2004-2006)

Three-year MEMS-ONE project to develop integrated CAD system for MEMS aimed at improving efficiency of MEMS design process from 2004 to 2006. Both beginners and high end users of MEMS are anticipated to utilize MEMS-ONE system in manufacturing MEMS devices.
 

 

 The beta version of MemsONE had been released in June, 2007. At the same time, the MemsONE support center had been established, which is in charge of MemsONE version-up and supporting users after 2007. The first commercial version of MemsONE will be launched in April, 2008.

 MEemsONE has user-friendly interfaces. Plug-in solvers developed by third parties will be welcome. And commercial software can be connected easily with MemsONE through data file.
 
 

(3) MEMS Project (2003-2005)
 
 MEMS Project is strictly targeted to develop advanced MEMS devices. Participating companies are urged to start foundry service of these advanced MEMS after finishing the project.
 
 

(4) Micromachine Technology Project (1991-2000)
 
 10 years Micromachine Technology Project ended in 2000 successfully with many technological results, which brought high capability of process and product innovation to participating companies. Outline of the project is shown below.
for more information on Micromachine Technology Project
 



MEMS Standardization

 MMC recognizes the importance of international standards of MEMS, and has been devoted to making an effort for IEC standardization. So far several drafts of standardization were submit to IEC as to terminology of micromachine technology, test methods of MEMS thin film material and so on. Original terminology data file can be accessed in this web.

 Micromachine Center became a mirror committee for IEC WG that lead the international standardization efforts on MEMS area in Japan. As a part of those activities, MEMS standardization roadmaps had been set and announced in April 2007. The roadmaps consists of two part. One is the road map on process and materials. The other is on devices for automobile application and information and communication technology application. Japan will continue its contribution on IEC acts as a key role of international MEMS standardization.

 



 Recently MMC initiated Japan-Korea-China Workshop on MEMS Standardization in order to exchange information and to survey future cooperative work on MEMS standardization. This workshop is decided to be held every year.
 

Exhibition MICROMACHINE
 with International Micromachine-Nanotech Symposium
 
 Exhibition MICROMACHINE targeted MEMS/micromachine business is held every year in Tokyo. The number of both attendance and exhibitor has been growing at a rapid speed for these several years, and becomes one of the most promising exhibitions at this moment. The Exhibition MICROMACHINE is the best exhibition which offers,
1) Opportunity for introducing your latest technology & products to the wide range of prospective customers.
2) Chance to get feedbacks from your potential buyers.
3) Place of multidisciplinary exchange.
4) Occasion to collect the latest market demands and trends.
more information on Exhibition MICROMACHINE
 
 International Micromachine-nanotech Symposium is also held every year together with Exhibition MICROMACHINE. The symposium aims to contribute to the advancement of Micromachine technology by referring to the latest technological information as well as the direction of the technological movement that brought here by foreign and domestic experts who are studying forefront technologies in micro/nano field.
more information on the symposium


MEMS Market in Japan
 
 MMC estimated MEMS Market Volume in 2002 and in 2010 expectations in Japan.You can get marketing data by the estimation.
 
 

[Current MEMS Market in Japan]
 The Current MEMS Market is 420 billion yen.

 Large Volume Sectors are Information Processing and Communication Equipment(150B yen), Automotive(135B yen) and Precision Equipment(91B yen). Those fields are strong industry in Japan. Their scale reflects the results of Japanese industry's pioneering efforts in MEMS development, application, and use to achieve product differentiation.

 Sectors Need to be Developed Further are Biotechnology, Medical/Social services and Society & Culture. Those fields represent attractive markets expected to be high growth markets in response to future changes in society.

[Market Predictions in 2010 in Japan]
 Estimated Market Volume will be 1.35 trillion yen in 2010.

 Large Volume Sectors(200~400B yen) are Information and communications equipment, Automotive Society and Culture. The MEMS market in these areas will expand and grow steadily. Development of low-cost MEMS sensors and RF MEMS enables significant growth in the society and culture sector because MEMS devices have been adopted in large numbers both in information-enabled home appliances and amusement products.

 New markets for MEMS (100B yen range) are New energy/Energy saving, Medical and social services,  Biotechnology and Aerospace. For realizing the those applications, both new functions and revolutionary precision and reliability will be required. The key to the development of these markets will be the development of MEMS technologies based on new materials and new structures.
 

MEMS Industry Forum Japan
 

 In order to accelerate MEMS industry, which has been carried out the takeoff start. development, MEMS Industry Forum (MIF) Japan was launched in April, 2006. The various policies that back up MEMS industrialization are still required to get steady growth of the industry.


 Major activities of MEMS Industry Forum Japan are as follows.
1) Proposing policies of the MEMS industry development to the government and agencies
2) Establishing and implementing projects of industry and academic cooperation
3) Improvement of MEMS infrastructure projects for supporting industry development
   - MEMS foundry network
   - Supporting MemsONE
   - Networking with foundries and clusters
   - Education
4) Supporting an increase in exchange of businesses information

  

International Affiliate Organizations 　as of October 1, 2008
Organization Country Link
iVAM Germany URL: http://www.ivam.de/index.php?clear=2
MANCEF USA URL: http://www.mancef.org/
MIG USA URL: http://www.memsindustrygroup.org/
NEXUS Switzerland URL: http://www.nexus-mems.com/index.asp
MNTNetwork UK URL: http://www.mntnetwork.com/
Frauenhofer ENAS Germany URL: http://www.pb.izm.fhg.de/izm/
UC Berkley, BSAC USA URL: http://www-bsac.eecs.berkeley.edu/
U of Michigan, WIMS USA URL: http://www.wimserc.org/
IMEC Belgie URL: http://www.imec.be/ovinter/static_general/start_en.shtml
SSTT China URL: http://www.sstt.org.cn/
SIMTech Singapore URL: http://www.simtech.a-star.edu.sg/simcorp/index.do
SUFRAMA Brazil URL: http://www.suframa.gov.br/eng/modelozfm_zfm_EN.cfm
IME Singapore URL: http://www.ime.a-star.edu.sg/
NTRA Korea URL: https://www.nanokorea.net/eng/
VTT Finland URL: http://www.vtt.fi/?lang=en
NNMC USA URL: http://nationalnano.info/aboutus.aspx
CEA-LETI France URL: http://www-leti.cea.fr/
ACAMP Canada   URL: http://acamp.ca/


IVAM http://www.ivam.de/
Interessengemeinschaft zur Verbreitung von Anwendungen der
Mikrostrukturtechniken

IVAM is an international association of companies and institutes in the field of microtechnology.

IVAM is the communicative bridge between suppliers and users of microtechnology products and services. At present 165 companies and institutes from eight European countries, Korea, Japan and the United States are IVAM members.

IVAM Objectives

  • to bring innovations to market and create competitive advantages
    via technology marketing.
  • to work international markets and provide worldwide networking.
  • to provide lobbying services for small and medium-sized enterprises
    in the high-tech sector.
MANCEF http://www.mancef.org/

MANCEF was incorporated in December 2000 as a not-for-profit organization in Florida, USA.

MANCEF Objectives

  • To promote the exchange of knowledge and disseminate information that can accelerate the emergence of an effective economic basis for the future development of Micro and Nano-technology based industries
  • To produce conferences, educational training sessions, international trade shows, seminars and internet-based electronic forums focusing on Micro and Nanotechnology, including commercial and educational opportunities utilizing such technology
  • To solicit proposals that will promote the commercialization of Micro, Nano and other small emergent technologies

MEMS Industry Group in U.S.A.
 http://www.memsindustrygroup.org/

The MEMS Industry Group (MIG) is the premier trade association representing the MEMS and Microstructure industries. MIG's goal is to:

  • enable the exchange of non-proprietary information among members
  • provide reliable industry data that furthers the development of technology
  • work with various groups to bring about the greater commercial development and use of MEMS and MEMS-enabled products

MIG strives to be the unifying voice of the commercial MEMS industry.

Mission Statement

MIG strives to be the unifying voice of the commercial MEMS industry. Our mission is to try to understand and to eliminate the barriers that prevent the greater commercial use of MEMS and MEMS-enabled technology.

In support of this mission, MIG provides its members with benefits and information previously unavailable to the industry. In addition to the annual Industry Report, members have access to the latest MIG-generated industry research and statistics on employment, revenue and markets. Linked together via the MIG Web site, members have instant, global visibility as thousands of unique customers, researchers, media and policymakers per month visit the site for information, industry news and trends.

Additionally, MIG provides two unique annual industry events: METRIC and the MEMS Executive Congress.  These events offer the opportunity to engage with peers in the MEMS industry in meaningful dialogue about technology and business, and how to harness both to move towards wider and more successful commercialization. 


National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center (NNMC)
http://nationalnano.info/aboutus.aspx

The US National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center (NNMC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of a robust, sustainable nanomanufacturing infrastructure by leveraging existing manufacturing capabilities and supporting the creating of new capabilities when necessary. In the US, it is nationally-recognized as the valued resource for the commercialization and manufacture of nanotechnology, and development of industry standards and workplace safety procedures. The NNMC currently has a major focus in nanolithography utilizing a wide range of sophisticated developmental instruments and test hardware, including: a Nano-R2 atomic force microscope, PixDro and Dimatix industrial ink-jet printers, NanoInk NSCRIPTOR Enabling Dip Pen Nanolithography research platform, and a 2-camera, single laser, full-motion image quality measurement system.

Exhibition Micromachine Micromachine Summit Micromachine & Nanotech Symposium