Cooperation between German and Japanese micro-electromechanical researchers

Written 16.08.2005 16:48 by Esther Russell Print Send article

A memorandum of understanding was signed in Munich on Friday July 15 by researchers from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Japanese colleagues from Tohoku University in Japan. Their joint objective is to develop MEMS, micro-electromechanical systems, for SMEs in Japan.

A technology park in Sendai, Japan, is being established for SMEs specializing in the design, construction and application of MEMS. As of late, Sendai has more recently focused its sights on encouraging high-tech companies to settle in the city and the new MEMS cluster is the latest in a series of development initiatives. Japanese experts from the renowned Tohoku University in Sendai and research teams from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft shall be working together on the development of new technologies.

"MEMS is an important emerging technology used to design miniaturized components that are cheap to produce and suitable for a multitude of applications." said Professor Thomas Geßner of the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM in Chemnitz. These components are already being used in optoelectronics, biotechnology, genetics and the automobile industry.

Professor Geßner of Chemnitz and Professor Masayoshi Esashi at Tohoku University now intend to offer their know-how to the enterprises based in the technology park. Professor Geßner has considerable experience in industrial applications of micro-electromechanical systems, whereas Professor Esashi is one of the world's leading experts in MEMS research.

Source: PhysOrg.com