E-newsletter nanoLINK 21

a) Next-generation smart systems*: Major breakthroughs in intelligent sensor and actuator systems complexity, miniaturisation, networking, and autonomy. Micro/nanoscale smart systems with higher performance at lower cost and lower power consumption for specific applications. Energy-management, scavenging and storing techniques. Design and packaging technologies for new sensors, actuators and microsystems, their combination and integration. Innovative devices and integrated systems with very high density mass storage capacity building upon progress in solid-state semiconductors, micro/nanodevices, mechanics, optics, electronics and magnetism.
b) Micro/nano/biotechnologies’ convergence: Converging micro/nano, bio and information technologies for the development and production of integrated systems for specific applications, such as environmental monitoring, agriculture and food quality management, safety, security, biomedical and lifestyle applications. Innovative bioMEMS, biosensors, lab-on-chip microsystems and autonomous implants and bio-robots. Research will also address packaging, multilevel interfacing, manufacturing, as well as ethical and societal issues.
c) Integration of smart materials: Integration of micro-nano technologies and smart systems into new and traditional materials, e.g. textiles, glass, paper, etc. Major outcome is a new generation of advanced polymeric, biocompatible, bioconnective, flexible and very durable materials. Emphasis is on integration into, for example, smart fabrics (SFIT - Smart Fabric Interactive Textiles) using micro/nanosystems at the fibre core, microelectronics components, user interfaces, power sources, software, all-in-one fabric, for personal (wearable) or other applications. Issues such as user-friendliness, quality, cost and comfort should be considered.
d) From smart systems to viable products: Advanced microsystems manufacturing technologies for the whole value chain (design, materials, processes, micro-/nano-scale devices, packaging testing and reliability) with a focus on cost-effective sensor/actuator and system integration technologies, supported by alternative fabrication and testing processes for short time-to-markets. Pre-industrial validation of new manufacturing concepts suitable for large-scale production will also be addressed.
e) Smart systems for communications and data management: Smart micro/nanosystems enabling wireless access and facilitating intelligent networking with emphasis on the hardware required for communications and the management of smart device information.
This includes solutions for adaptable RF and HF technologies (e.g. RFID, RF-NEMS and HF-NEMS). Data management, storage and processing functions of smart systems will also be addressed.
f) Support actions will ensure broad access to micro/nanosystems manufacturing technologies, in particular by SMEs, identify training and education needs of the area proposing appropriate measures and establish specific measures aiming at coordination and dissemination of smart systems integration RTD at European level.
Expected impact
• Substantial improvement on various aspects of smart systems integration: Higher product quality and reliability, increased miniaturisation, integration and functionality, lower costs, reduced power consumption, higher speed requirements and/or shorter time-tomarket.
• Transformation of industrial production by adding intelligence to process control and the manufacturing shop floor, and by improving logistics and distribution - thereby increasing productivity.
• Increased market share for European companies across different industrial sectors by delivering systems with new functional capabilities and improved quality within a competitive timeframe.
Funding schemes
a-e): CP, NoE; f): CSA
Call: FP7-ICT-2007-2

* Smart systems are understood as systems able to sense, diagnose, describe and qualify a given situation as well as able to mutually address and identify each other. They are able to interface, interact and communicate with their environment and with other smart systems.