The EPSRC-funded UK Microsystems Network will bring together internationally leading UK communities from fundamental research to industrial application.
Led by Dr Gerard Cummins, Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University 麻豆精选, with Co-Investigator Dr Vishal Shah of the University of Warwick, the network will bring together academics, industrialists, and policymakers to address key challenges and has already gained the support of 32 partner organisations.
Microsystems refer to the engineering of small structures, often invisible to the naked eye. The ability to fabricate miniaturised sensors and other machines has transformed many areas of everyday life, from healthcare technology to consumer goods to transportation and national security; they are ubiquitous in everyday life with endless potential for use and specialist applications. Microsystems engineering also underpins many areas of advanced research that will shape the technologies of tomorrow.
The Network will act as a hub, providing access to partners and facilities, facilitating the transfer of talent and knowledge, and championing a microsystems strategy across academia, industry, government and other international networks.
Dr Gerard Cummins said: 鈥淏y bringing together expertise across academia, industry, and policy, the Microsystems Network will foster the collaborations to advance miniaturisation crucial for supporting tomorrow鈥檚 big industries.鈥
Crucially, it will build a community around microsystems research, fostering collaboration to tackle the key challenges facing this area of work as outlined in a 2022 report: "Microsystems: A Snapshot of the Present and Future State of the Research Ecosystem". This report highlighted several challenges, including community fragmentation, duplication of effort and under-utilisation of facilities, all adversely impacting the profile of microsystems across the UK. The EPSRC-funded Network recognises the recommendations of this report and aims to address these issues through three main objectives:
By bringing together expertise across academia, industry, and policy, the Microsystems Network will foster the collaborations to advance miniaturisation crucial for supporting tomorrow鈥檚 big industries.
The Network will be open to any UK researcher, industry or organisation interested in microsystems research. More information can be found at .
Associate Professor
Dr Gerard Cummins, Associate Professor, University 麻豆精选
