SINTEF is the largest independent research institute in Scandinavia. The Department of Microsystems and Nanotechnology has performed numerous feasibility studies and designed various microdevices, including inertial sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes), gas sensors (microacoustic, photoacoustic, microoptical), a variety of pressure sensors and microfluidic/biomedical elements (flow sensors, lab- on-chip systems, ultrasonic devices). The designed elements have been fabricated either by the SensoNor (Infineon Technologies SensoNor AS) MPW process or in-house using SINTEF's own clean room manufacturing line. SINTEF's MiNaLab was ISO 9001 certified in 2006.
The Institut für Mikro- und Informationstechnik (HSG-IMIT) is a leading R&D provider for microsystem technology, focussing on microfluidics and sensors. It is headed by Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft (HSG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to support industry with applied research and development. Several laboratories and a 600 sqm clean room are equipped with a state-of-the-art infrastructure to develop and manufacture microsystems, such as lab-on-chips, drug delivery systems, flow sensors and inertial measurement units. HSG-IMIT is certified according to ISO 9001:2000.
SensoNorTechnologies AS, located in Horten, Norway, develops and manufactures sensors and microsystems for high-volume applications. With its tire-pressure monitoring system, based on bulk micromachining of silicon and glass, the company has become a world-market leader in the automotive sensor area. In addition, the company has developed and currently produces angular rate sensors for automotive safety applications. Currently the company has 175 employees.
thinXXS produces and develops microfluidic and microoptic components and systems preferably in plastics. The company offers active microfluidic devices such as micropumps off the shelf or customized passive microfluidic solutions such as lab-on-chip systems. thinXXS' expertise comprises the whole value chain, from design and engineering, mold and tool fabrication via micromolding in high volume to finishing and assembly. An accumulated experience of more than 150 years in microtechnology development and production services is used at thinXXS to serve the customers' needs worldwide.
Tronics microsystems based in Crolles, France, is a flexible contract manufacturer of high value-added custom MEMS components for demanding applications. The company possesses one of the strongest experience in transforming innovative MEMS concepts and requirements into manufacturable and reliable products. tronics provides an ISO 9001:2000 certified end-to-end service of customization and industrialization of MEMS solutions and production of packaged and tested custom components. tronics microsystems is positioned to become a leading manufacturer of customer specific bioMEMS products and addresses diverse demanding applications such as laboratory automation, medical diagnostics and homeland security.
Coventor provides a comprehensive suite of software tools for the development of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), microfluidics and semiconductor process applications. CoventorWare is an industry standard platform adopted by leading MEMS and microfluidics manufacturers around the globe, and by an extensive network of university partners. Coventor is a privately held company headquartered in Cary, NC and with offices in Cambridge, A and San Mateo, CA. The European headquarters and development centre are in Paris, France. Coventor also serves the Asia Pacific region through regional distributors.
Vestfold University College (VUC) [in Norwegian: Høgskolen i Vestfold (HVE)] with its main campus in Borre in Vestfold, Norway, is a modern academic and technological centre and one of the medium-sized university colleges in Norway, with 2300 full-time student equivalents. VUC has 20 faculty members in the Institute for Microsystems. The college offers Bachelor and Master degrees in Microsystems Technology, as well as contract research in this field, with packaging of microsystems and biomedical microsystems as focused fields of expertise.
The Department of Electronics Technology at Budapest University of Technology and Economics was established in 1964 to teach and research different fields of materials science, physical design and technology for the benefit of the electronics industry. Currently, the department teaches technology to students of electrical engineering and technical informatics and supports PhD studies. The department lays special emphasis on interconnection and packaging technologies as well as microfluidic systems, which act as a driving force for continued progress in electronics development in the third millennium.
The Consortium for research and continuing education is a non-profit consortium created in 1987 in Turin, Italy. The consortium is composed of academic, institutional and industrial partners. The aim is to effectuate collaboration among universities, services & production sector and local public institutions in the areas of technology innovation and high level advanced training. COREP's main activities are: education at university level addressing professionals, promotion of joint activities among industry, local institutions and universities and the creation and management of scholarships to favor the transfer of competences from university into industry.
