Converging Micro-Nano-Bio-Information & Communication Technologies Towards Integrated Systems: the Contribution of the EU Information Society Technologies Program

The world of micro & nano technologies and systems has significantly evolved in the last few years. A paradigm shift has emerged which ranges from single silicon devices to a multitude of materials and integrated systems. The research approach has evolved accordingly: from mono-disciplines to multi-disciplinary research involving physics, mathematics, chemistry, medicine, biotechnology, mechanics, and micro-nano electronics. The development and integration of heterogeneous technologies at the interface of nanotechnology, biotechnology and information & communication technologies towards miniaturised, multifunctional and cost-effective systems is being attracting great interest and effort, world wide. In particular, under the research and technology development framework programme (FP) 6 of the European Union [2002-2006], the Information Society Technologies program (1ST), micro-nano systems sector2, invested more than 100 meuro through academic and industrial cooperative projects, striving a balance between technological innovation (discovery) and integration into functional systems that can be plugged into real-life environment (applied R&D). The group of EC-funded projects on Micro-Nano-Bio Convergence Systems, "so-called" MNBS, is made by projects developing systems that use a vast array of technologies to integrate across traditional boundaries between the micro-nano- bio, and info worlds, enabling a wide range of applications from health care to food quality monitoring. The group could be divided, at its current stage, in two main categories: - Biosensors, DNA & protein arrays, biochips, lab on chip, and other miniaturised systems enabling point of care, in vitro molecular diagnosis, and biological analysis. Such projects develop and integrate components and modules e.g. microfluidics, biosamples preparation, sensing, detection, signal processing and data reading/handling. Applications in biomedicine and healthcare include e.g. early cancer diagnostics, prognosis and disease recurrence (e.g. breast, prostate, lung and colorectal), malaria detection, diabetes monitoring and deep vein thrombosis early detection. Another promising research line is on wearable biochemical sensing though sweat analysis, targeting applications such as sports and human performance, obesity and wound healing. - Body sensors, implantable systems, endoscopic probes, active electrodes and other miniaturised systems interacting with the human body to enable several applications e.g. drug delivery, repairing of vital functions and diagnosis. These projects develop and integrate components and systems e.g. sensors, actuators, micro/nano electrodes, power supply, signal & data processing, and wireless telecommunication modules to fulfil predefined applications requirements. Such examples are smart implant sensors and systems e.g. glaucoma & retina sensor, intra-cranial pressure sensor, cochlear implant, functional electrical stimulation for limp motion, activity monitor, sphincter sensor and biosensor for blood glucose monitoring. Other examples include endoscopic probes (for gastrointestinal tumor recognition and therapy), active neural electrode system for stimulation and recording of brain activity and disorders; drug delivery through intraoral microsystem; non invasive Sensors and systems for attention, stress, vigilance and sleep on the go. The cluster aims at, promoting excellence and relevance within the community, building critical mass of activities with clear visibility and societal impact, as well as identifying possible synergies and common interest topics for further collaboration e.g. packaging, manufacturing, common infrastructure, standardization, ethics, testing-validation, market analysis & roadmapping, as well as dissemination, awareness and education. The paper will present the R&D strategy, the on-going activities and future challenges addressed by MNBS cluster.