Key Technology
Worldwide, microsystems technology (MST) is recognized as one of the key technologies for the 21st Century. It has gained in importance, not only at the research site, but increasingly also at the industrial location Germany, particularly in Berlin.
For research and industry as well as in various applications, microsystems and their components have far-reaching prospects and markets.
With the help of MST it is possible to transform currently still cumbersome, expensive and relatively difficult-to-use devices into light-weight, portable, reliable, inexpensive and easy-to-use products. It can thus be understood as an innovative approach to the integration of complex functions with micromechanical, microelectronic, micro-optical, microbiological and micro-fluidic principles.
Importance for the economy
Medical and automotive industries have traditionally been strong users of MST, now increasingly augmented by the logistics, biotechnology, agriculture, food industry and electronics industries. Growth rates in the field of MST are at 16% annually. (Source: NEXUS Market Analysis for MEMS and Microsystems III, 2005 to 2009, 2005)
Importance for the job market
Today, some 680,000 jobs in Germany are linked to MST, including 50,000 directly in production. The volume of MST product sales has reached more than € 277 billion.
Germany is a neck-and-neck race with the United States and Asia's leading industrialized nations in innovations in micro- and nanotechnology.
Support from the federal government
The federal government aims to expand the capacity of German industry as a provider of system solutions. It is working to leverage the strength of Germany in MST in order to facilitate the integration of nanotechnology into application products. It therefore supports the technology development in MST and its application in key industries.
To reduce the barriers to innovation in small and medium businesses, the BMBF supports with the program "Microsystems" especially joint R&D projects of industrial and research partners, which may represent forerunners for product and process development.
Importance for the region
The capital region has excellent conditions and competencies in research, development and manufacture of microsystems. With more than 25 research and training institutions which investigate and develop MST components, processes, materials and production and train highly qualified professionals, the region has a promising potential in MST research.
The regional landscape of MST companies ostensibly consists of suppliers of sensors and instrumentation, as well as enterprises in micro-optics, optoelectronics and laser technology. Currently there are about 250 mostly small or medium-sized enterprises (Source: Federal Ministry for Education and Research (ed.) Ideas Ignite. A High-Tech Strategy for Germany, Bonn, Berlin, 2006).
