A € 6.5m European Commission project will try to reduce the cost and risks associated with designing, prototyping and manufacturing micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) based electronic devices.

Known as Integramplus, the three year project is being co-ordinated by Qinetiq and will involve 10 manufacturers from seven European countries.

It is the cost and complexity involved with integrating a combination of mechanical, electrical, optical, biological and fluidic functions which is presenting new challenges for device manufacturers. See System-in-package faces software problem

The project will initially focus on integrating silicon-based MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) components with polymer backplanes and platforms. Three proof-of-concept demonstrator components will be developed and will include a bio-diagnostics sensor based on customer requirements.

The development of medical systems is seen as the main focus for the work and there will also be a survey of end-users in the healthcare market.

As the name suggests, the project is an extension of the previous Integram EC-funded project which was also led by Qinetiq and focused on silicon sensors and electronics. 

According to Qinetiq's project co-ordinator Dr Chris Pickering: “The demand for increasingly complex microsystems requires a combination of technical expertise that is best delivered by pulling together talent from across Europe. I believe that this group of partners, together with the extensive network of supply chain associates, is a powerful consortium able to minimise risk and cost-of-entry to development of novel MNT-based products.”

Participating companies include: Coventor (France), CSEM (Switzerland); Epigem (UK); IMM (Germany); IMT (Romania); ITE (Poland); Silex Microsystems (Sweden); University of Lancaster (UK); and Yole Développement (France).