MEMS Industry Group Scores Success with MEMS Executive Congress Europe

MEMS Industry Group (MIG)’s first MEMS Executive Congress® Europe, held March 20, 2012 in Zurich, was a resounding success. Keynotes by Audi AG and STMicroelectronics and panels on smart industrial systems, automotive, Quality of Life (QoL)/biomedical devices, and consumer products gave more than 150 attendees of MEMS Executive Congress a glimpse of the future of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) in wide-ranging applications.

Calling MEMS “the nervous system of machines,” Siemens’ Thomas Scheiter predicted that smart industrial systems will use sensors and software algorithms as “brains” that interpret data from electronic devices. VTI Technologies’ Hannu Laatikainen waxed poetic when he stated that we need to “treat the car more like a human that can see, feel, hear, smell and taste.” Suunto’s Terho Lahtinen described the role of gyros and RF MEMS with biofeedback in complete, multi-level sensor networks that improve athletic performance. Philips Research Laboratories’ Hans Hofstraat declared that “MEMS devices are an essential component in bringing healthcare closer to the patient. They can play a key role in promoting self-management of chronic disease. Furthermore, they are at the basis of innovations in effective minimally invasive therapies.”

As host of the event, Karen Lightman, managing director of MEMS Industry Group—the trade association advancing MEMS across global markets—noted recurring themes expressed by the various speakers. “MEMS is growing at an exponential pace. That’s true in consumer products and automotive, where it is practically ubiquitous—and in smart industrial systems and QoL/biomedical devices, in which it is steadily gaining ground. MEMS is enabling functionality that we have only just begun to imagine, such as cars that drive themselves, or biomedical systems that minimize surgery and miniaturize therapy for diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson’s. While the design of these applications is vastly different, a common interest in integration, mass production, safety and reliability applies across the board.”

Lightman added that “the fantastic success of MEMS Executive Congress Europe and the US MEMS Session at our partner conference, Smart Systems Integration, demonstrates that these issues are universal and worldwide—and that forums such as these are important to furthering the commercialization of MEMS.”

ABOUT MEMS EXECUTIVE CONGRESS EUROPE

Premier sponsors of MEMS Executive Congress Europe 2012 include: Platinum Sponsor – EV Group; Gold Sponsors - Applied Materials and SPTS Technologies; and Silver Sponsors - Analog Devices and Semefab. Additional sponsors include: ACUTRONIC, AEPI, A.M. Fitzgerald & Associates, Asia Pacific Microsystems, Bosch, Bosch Sensortec, CEA Léti, CSEM, Freescale Semiconductor, Fries Research & Technology (FRT), GSA, IHS iSuppli, imec, iNEMI, IVAM, Plan Optik, Maxim, MST BW, NMI, Okmetic, Smart Systems Integration, SEMICON Europa, Solid State Technology, SVTC and Yole Développement.

MEMS Executive Congress Europe was held March 20, 2012 at the Hotel Novotel Zurich Airport Messe, Zurich, Switzerland. It was co-located with Smart Systems Integration 2012.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The US edition of MEMS Executive Congress will be held November 7-8, 2012 at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ. For more information, please visit: www.memscongress.com/us.

ABOUT MEMS INDUSTRY GROUP

MEMS Industry Group (MIG) is the trade association advancing MEMS across global markets. More than 130 companies comprise MIG, including Analog Devices, Applied Materials, Robert Bosch GmbH, Freescale Semiconductor, GE, Honeywell, HP, Intel, InvenSense, Nokia, STMicroelectronics, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, VTI Technologies and WiSpry. For more information, visit: www.memsindustrygroup.org.

MEMS Industry Group and the MEMS Industry Group logo are registered trademarks of MEMS Industry Group. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.