Historically, in the European Union there were no dedicated programs targeting the specific needs and requirements of microtechnologies, and its development has been strongly linked to research centres and universities.

During the past few years, there has been an increase in government investment in institutions. The emphasis seems to be on creating an enabling infrastructure to support the conversion of research results into technologies to the point that they are attractive to companies for application and commercialization [11].

Opportunities for micro systems can also be found in EURIMUS II program, an industrial initiative inside the EUREKA programme to support the development of products and systems exploiting microtechnologies as well as enabling technologies, manufacturing and equipment for all application domains [15].

Additional support is provided by two other initiatives: NEXUS (Network of Excellence in Multifunctional Microsystems) and EUROPRACTICE. Established in 1992 with European Community support, NEXUS aims to promote R&D and commercialisation of MEMS and microsystems through the creation of a set of co-ordinated forums for discussion and exchange of information among researchers and workers in the MST field. EUROPRACTICE, which links together several European competence centres (also includes non European Union (EU) participants), provides support in designing, prototyping and manufacturing of micro systems [16].

More recently, inside the VI EU´s Framework Programme, the Multi-Material Micro Manufacture (4M) Network of Excellence has been created. Its main aim is to improve research collaboration in the development of Micro and Nano Technology (MNT) for the batch-manufacture of micro-components and devices in a variety of materials for future microsystem products.

Furthermore, many projects related to microtechnologies have been approved, like LAUNCH-MICRO (MicroTechnologies for Re-launching European Machine Manufacturing SMEs), PROFORM (an innovative manufacture process concept for a flexible and cost effective production of the vehicle body in white: Profile forming), MASMICRO (integration of manufacturing systems for mass-manufacture of miniature/micro products bulk forming), Nano-CMM (universal and flexible 3D coordinate metrology for micro and nano components production), PHODYE (new photonic systems on a chip based on dyes for sensor applications scalable at wafer fabrication) or Production4micro (production technologies for micro systems).

It is clear that Europe, inside and outside the EU, is stepping up its effort to increase its competitiveness in this field with respect to USA and Japan. However, the situation of the development varies from country to country mainly due to a bigger investment in recent years in micromanufacturing R&D; Germany, France, UK, Switzerland and some of the Scandinavian countries seem to be already better placed than others in this effort.

The great investments realised in the field of microtechnologies by Germany has led it to the third position in the world, just behind the USA and Japan. There is a mix of government and private/industry funding and projects tend to be long-term. Emphasis is on refining and fine-tuning technologies to make them commercially attractive and easily adapted. Links with universities seem to be very important to success. The “Fraunhofer System”, which is a splendid case, is a major driving force for micromanufacturing research, technology development and commercialization with strong ties with the university system and industry obtaining impressive results. On the other hand, there is abundant evidence of the desire to commercialize smaller micromanufacturing machine tools and accessories on a commodity basis, examples include Kugler’s Flycutter and MicroTURN machines, the Carl Zeiss F25 small-scale CMM, the Klocke Nanotechnik microscale robotic systems, etc. [11].

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