Final Report Summary - IPMMAN (Improvement of industrial production integrating macro-, micro- and nanotechnologies for more flexible and efficient manufacturing)
IPMMAN was a Coordinated Action project supported by the European Commission, having as its ultimate goal to support, with the collaboration of other projects, the establishment of a European Technology Platform on micro- and nanomanufacturing and a strategic research agenda.
In the IPMMAN roadmap results, they cover the issue for the need for mastering micro- and nanotechnologies, which was generally pointed out as key for the future of the European Industry. This was done by elaborating a list of micro- and nanomanufacturing technologies, whose potential and priorities were discussed with experts and compared with the results of available documents. The IPMMAN philosophy of providing an integrative, systemic approach proved to be a valuable perspective, as corroborated by the received feedback and processed information. Instead of focusing only on standard microelectronics/MEMS and/or its downscaling towards nano, the project explored all application possibilities which provide industrial added value by integrating micro and nanotechnologies (e.g. nanocoating over large areas for automobile or space applications, macro-micro solutions like system-in-package for assembly and integration in order to solve the problem of high assembly cost, etc.)
The issue of advanced manufacturing tailored to micro and nano needs is considered a crucial concern in IPMMAN, and was confirmed by the analysed information and received feedback. Many of the topics recommended -such as metrology, quality assurance, intelligent control, modelling and simulation, etc.) were also encountered in horizontal multisectorial manufacturing studies and initiatives like ManuFuture. However, it has been clearly shown that micro- and nano imposes totally new challenges, which are not considered elsewhere and demand totally new approaches (e.g. multi-scale design and modelling approaches taking into account micro- and nano-interactions, manufacturing technologies compatible with quantum physics, etc.). These and many other issues require totally new production systems and platforms, and mere adaptation of the traditional macro-manufacturing systems is not an option.
A sectorial (end-user) industrial focus has been provided in IPMMAN's roadmap, through the consideration of market oriented studies and documents from sectorial technology platforms. This ensures the industrial relevance of the attained conclusions, as well as providing a justification for the recommended priorities, in terms of market estimates and quantitative figures.
The following important conclusions have been attained in the IPMMAN roadmap (in relation to the issue of the sectorial, end-user focus), which have been introduced in the jointly agreed document of recommendations to the EC. In the first place, multi-disciplinary and cross-sectorial micro- and nanomanufacturing platforms (e.g. merging micro- and nanotechnologies with bio- and or IT) introduce very challenging aspects and have high relevance for the future of Europe. Further, the relevance of SMEs was acknowledged, as well as the need to encourage and facilitate the optimal utilisation of their potential in micro- and nanomanufacturing (e.g. in networks).
The preliminary conclusions of this roadmap were regularly discussed with the other participants in the micro- and nanoroadmaping, and the key aspects were included in the draft documents of recommendations to the European Commission for micro- and nanomanufacturing in the Seventh Framework Programme.
In the IPMMAN roadmap results, they cover the issue for the need for mastering micro- and nanotechnologies, which was generally pointed out as key for the future of the European Industry. This was done by elaborating a list of micro- and nanomanufacturing technologies, whose potential and priorities were discussed with experts and compared with the results of available documents. The IPMMAN philosophy of providing an integrative, systemic approach proved to be a valuable perspective, as corroborated by the received feedback and processed information. Instead of focusing only on standard microelectronics/MEMS and/or its downscaling towards nano, the project explored all application possibilities which provide industrial added value by integrating micro and nanotechnologies (e.g. nanocoating over large areas for automobile or space applications, macro-micro solutions like system-in-package for assembly and integration in order to solve the problem of high assembly cost, etc.)
The issue of advanced manufacturing tailored to micro and nano needs is considered a crucial concern in IPMMAN, and was confirmed by the analysed information and received feedback. Many of the topics recommended -such as metrology, quality assurance, intelligent control, modelling and simulation, etc.) were also encountered in horizontal multisectorial manufacturing studies and initiatives like ManuFuture. However, it has been clearly shown that micro- and nano imposes totally new challenges, which are not considered elsewhere and demand totally new approaches (e.g. multi-scale design and modelling approaches taking into account micro- and nano-interactions, manufacturing technologies compatible with quantum physics, etc.). These and many other issues require totally new production systems and platforms, and mere adaptation of the traditional macro-manufacturing systems is not an option.
A sectorial (end-user) industrial focus has been provided in IPMMAN's roadmap, through the consideration of market oriented studies and documents from sectorial technology platforms. This ensures the industrial relevance of the attained conclusions, as well as providing a justification for the recommended priorities, in terms of market estimates and quantitative figures.
The following important conclusions have been attained in the IPMMAN roadmap (in relation to the issue of the sectorial, end-user focus), which have been introduced in the jointly agreed document of recommendations to the EC. In the first place, multi-disciplinary and cross-sectorial micro- and nanomanufacturing platforms (e.g. merging micro- and nanotechnologies with bio- and or IT) introduce very challenging aspects and have high relevance for the future of Europe. Further, the relevance of SMEs was acknowledged, as well as the need to encourage and facilitate the optimal utilisation of their potential in micro- and nanomanufacturing (e.g. in networks).
The preliminary conclusions of this roadmap were regularly discussed with the other participants in the micro- and nanoroadmaping, and the key aspects were included in the draft documents of recommendations to the European Commission for micro- and nanomanufacturing in the Seventh Framework Programme.
