LEUVEN (Belgium), 24 September 2024 — Imec expands Europractice portfolio by offering access to thin-film piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (piezoMEMS) fabrication services from SINTEF, a leading European independent research institute in Norway.
Europractice users now have access to SINTEF’s piezoMEMS fabrication processes. SINTEF, a Norwegian independent research organization with more than 70 years of history, has a long track record bridging the gap between academia and industry. Since 2003, their micro- and nanotechnology lab (MiNaLab), located in Oslo, has developed and fabricated microdevices that have found applications worldwide.
Thin-film piezoMEMS have attributes that allow them to surpass conventional electrostatic MEMS for making innovative low-power microdevices. While SINTEF’s thin film piezoMEMS technology has already found its way into a range of applications, from gas detectors to 3D cameras and robotics, its impact continues to grow as more applications and businesses adopt it.
Through imec, Europractice users can get from 3 up to 12 6-inch wafers of piezoMEMS devices per Multi-Project Batch (MPB) scheme. Each wafer can accommodate different designs and test structures.
“This partnership contributes to Europractice’s aim to promote technologies developed within European Research and Technology Organizations (RTO), and it enhances our emerging technologies portfolio by giving our users more choices to fabricate their piezoMEMS devices,” says Dr. Maria Martinez Valado, Program Manager at imec. “We are pleased to join forces with SINTEF and start providing their services to the Europractice community.”
“Thin-film piezoMEMS allow us to realize microdevices that were not possible before. Our in-house design and world-class cleanroom facilities offer flexibility on every level, from initial design and prototyping to microdevice production,” says Dr. Runar Dahl-Hansen, Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF MiNaLab .
About SINTEF
SINTEF is one of Europe’s largest independent research organizations, encompassing more than 2200 employees from 80 + nations. As a multidisciplinary R&D partner, SINTEF delivers applied research, innovation, technology development, knowledge, and solutions to large and small customers worldwide.
In the 800 m2 Micro -and Nanotechnology Lab (MiNaLab) in Oslo, SINTEF combines R&D and small-scale production of silicon-based microdevices, from silicon radiation detection to MEMS and thin film piezoMEMS. The ultra-clean, complete in-house processing facilities are certified according to ISO 9001:2015 (quality management), ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management), and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), ensuring high-quality services from start to finish. Both Norwegian and international industries use SINTEF MiNaLab to produce their key components. SINTEF can perform sensor and actuator design according to the specifications and needs of our customers. We pride ourselves on our flexibility and openness in all discussions regarding your design, prototyping, and manufacturing details to tailor a product and service that meets your requirements.
About EUROPRACTICE
EUROPRACTICE is a consortium of research organisations that provides European industry and academia with a platform to develop electronic circuits and systems. For nearly 30 years, the consortium has offered affordable access to prototyping and volume production services in a wide range of technologies, including ASICs, MEMS, Photonics, Flexible Electronics, Compound Semiconductors, and more. For future generations of engineers, EUROPRACTICE has provided design tools and a broad training offer ensuring the growing digital economy in Europe. The consortium consists of five partners, namely imec (Belgium), UKRI-STFC (UK), Fraunhofer IIS (Germany), CIME-P from Grenoble INP (France) and Tyndall National Institute (Ireland). Over the years, EUROPRACTICE has been supported by the European Commission, which allowed expansion into new markets and continuation of the high-quality service to more than 600 academic institutions and over 300 SMEs.
About imec
Imec is a world-leading research and innovation center in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Imec leverages its state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure and its team of more than 5,500 employees and top researchers, for R&D in advanced semiconductor and system scaling, silicon photonics, artificial intelligence, beyond 5G communications and sensing technologies, and in application domains such as health and life sciences, mobility, industry 4.0, agrofood, smart cities, sustainable energy, education, … Imec unites world-industry leaders across the semiconductor value chain, Flanders-based and international tech, pharma, medical and ICT companies, start-ups, and academia and knowledge centers. Imec is headquartered in Leuven (Belgium), and has research sites across Belgium, in the Netherlands, and representation in 3 continents. In 2023, imec’s revenue (P&L) totaled 941 million euro.
