The 10th International Micromachine / Nanotech Symposium, subsidized
by the Japan Motorcycle Racing Organization and supported by METI and NEDO,
was held on November 11 (Thursday), 2004, at the Science Museum in Kitanomaru
Park, Tokyo. The themes for this symposium were “Micromachine technology
for safe and secure advanced information societies”, “New MEMS/ systems
and technology”, and “Policy trends of MEMS research and development”;
15 lectures were presented by invited speakers, 4 from overseas and 11
from within Japan. The symposium welcomed 359 participants altogether,
including general attendees from both within Japan and overseas, speakers,
invited guests, and members of the media. This number represents an increase
of more than 20% over last year’s attendance and includes the highest number
of participants from within Japan to date. The symposium was a roaring
success, with morning sessions in particular so packed there was barely
standing room.
In Session 1, “Opening”, an opening address was given by Dr. Tamotsu
Nomakuchi, Chairman of the Micromachine Center, followed by a guest speech
by Mr. Yoshinori Komiya, Director of the Industrial Machinery Division,
Manufacturing Industries Bureau, METI. This was followed by a special lecture
entitled “New progress of integration and fusion in MEMS ? expectations
for new industry creation”, presented by Prof. Susumu Sugiyama of Ritsumeikan
University. The input/output of LSI ? the development of which enabled
the realization of today’s information society - is limited by electronic
signals; MEMS, however, has the potential to input/output a diversity of
signals - electronic, mechanical, optical, magnetic, chemical, and even
biological. By combining MEMS with the remarkable technological innovation
that is nanotechnology, it is anticipated that this field will bring about
tremendous dreams for human society.
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In Session 2, “Micromachine technology for safe and secure advanced
information societies”, speakers active at the forefront of the commercialization
of cars, information equipment, and medical equipment presented lectures
on the relationship between MEMS and these various products. Brimming as
these product-focused lectures were with practicality, the already overflowing
lecture hall took on an added air of excitement. Today micromachine (MEMS)
technology is a key technology supporting a safe and secure highly information-orientated
society. Thanks to MEMS technology and nanotechnology, such innovations
as the ultimate safe car; the impressively creative, ultimate computer
display; and the safe, reassuring, highly efficient, ultimate therapeutic
capsule endoscope are no longer dreams.
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Session 3, “New MEMS/ systems and technology”, began with 3 lectures
(2 by speakers from overseas and 1 by a speaker from within Japan) on the
relationship between ubiquitous networks and MEMS. These were followed
by 2 lectures (1 each by speakers from overseas and within Japan) on the
application of MEMS in biomedicine. Various other lectures on timely topics
were presented, including the smart skin for turbulence confrd insplred
by dolphins skin, the integrated MEMS that examined the example of infrared
image sensors, and the nanoimprinting technology. which enables micro and
nano machining innovations with a view to moving away from the semiconductor
process. From these it is clear that MEMS can potentially be applied and
expanded in a vast array of fields. However, for this to be realized, R&D
of new production technologies that considers cost reductions is also an
important challenge for the future.
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Session 4, “Policy trends of MEMS research and development” featured
such lectures as one on market trends for MEMS that showed an expansion
of the MEMS market from 450 billion today to 1.35 trillion in 2010 and
another on the METI/NEDO MEMS design and analysis support system development
project (MEMS-ONE Project) - launched in an industry-academia consortium
by the Micromachine Center ? that highlighted the activities of the Micromachine
Center. Furthermore, a lecture on systematic approaches in material research
necessary to MST (Micro System Technology), launched by a European industry-academia
consortium showed how global R&D is progressing overseas also.
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Lasting from just after 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., the long program
packed in 15 lectures, beginning with the special lecture, and the lecture
hall was filled with an air of excitement. A sense of the enormity of the
potential of micromachines and MEMS, and tremendous expectations for their
future was palpable. Responses to the symposium included many favorable
comments from participants, such as “I was able to learn about new trends
and could see the direction in which commercialization is heading” and
“MEMS-ONE is a highly desirable experiment; I hold high expectations for
it,” and some of the information presented in lectures was taken up and
reported favorably by the media. Thanks to the efforts of our speakers,
both from within Japan and overseas, who presented such topical information,
and of the members of the program committee, who worked so hard to organize
the program, this year’s symposium was a resounding success. Lasting from
just after 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., the long program packed in 15 lectures,
beginning with the special lecture, and the lecture hall was filled with
an air of excitement. A sense of the enormity of the potential of micromachines
and MEMS, and tremendous expectations for their future was palpable. Responses
to the symposium included many favorable comments from participants, such
as “I was able to learn about new trends and could see the direction in
which commercialization is heading” and “MEMS-ONE is a highly desirable
experiment; I hold high expectations for it,” and some of the information
presented in lectures was taken up and reported favorably by the media.
Thanks to the efforts of our speakers, both from within Japan and overseas,
who presented such topical information, and of the members of the program
committee, who worked so hard to organize the program, this year’s symposium
was a resounding success.
The next symposium, The 11th International Micromachine / Nanotech
Symposium, is planned for November 10 (Thursday), 2005, again at the Science
Museum in Kitanomaru Park, Tokyo (located near the Imperial Palace), in
conjunction with The 16th Micromachine Exhibition.
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Program