Currently existing idea that microfabrication technologies and microproducts will have an excellent industrial and commercial acceptance is generalised, and market expectations reveal an enormous potential.

However, there are some challenges to be faced if more rapid spread, and an improved acceptance are sought [82-83]:

Production capacity. A massive implementation of the microtechnologies in industry requires the possibility to obtain large batch production of microcomponents at a reduced cost. In consequence, new manufacturing processes, new machines and other production means should be developed, or current microtechnologies should be adapted as well.

Packaging and assembly techniques. The packaging and assembly techniques allow microsystems to connect with external applications. Existing techniques involve a significant increase of the final microsystems prices. Thus, more economical and novel techniques with an easy connection and suitability for aggressive environmental conditions are required.

New materials. Microsystems requirements vary depending on their application. Satisfying these needs means using one or another type of material. Generally, the need to reduce fabrication costs and large batch production of microcomponents, materials’ biocompatibility, the possibility to work within aggressive environments, special behaviour over certain physical properties, and other factors demand using alternative materials to silicon, like polymers, metals, ceramics, composites, etc. or the development of new materials modifying the internal structure at nanometric scale.

Specific engineering tools. An adequate microsystem design and simulation helps to reduce errors and save time and money. The design and simulation tools should be specific for each fabrication technology and adapted to work with high precisions and reduced dimensions including appropriate material libraries for microcomponents considering the scale effect.

Standardization. If a higher acceptance of microsystems is sought, costs and development time should be reduced. Standardization results in an effective way to reduce them, increasing the demand to produce microcomponents, overcoming the economies of scale, and making possible the construction of microsystems by means of the integration of modular blocks. Industry needs to be active and aware of standardization matters as well as being effective in getting its standards accepted in the markets.

Qualified workforce and multidisciplinary teams. An education system capable of delivering the required diversity and multidisciplinarity in a skilled research, design and production workforce is needed. It is imperative to note that the increasing complexity of the technology requires significant multidisciplinary education and training programmes. Demand is already outstripping the supply of talent.

Infrastructure creation. A research environment and adequate infrastructure capable of supporting visionary and industrially relevant advanced pre-production research activities, including validation processes (such as pilot lines), that facilitate the rapid introduction of innovative technologies into manufacturing systems, products and services to deliver world-class results in a timely manner should be constructed.

Financial and institutional support. A favourable legal and financial environment (including fast-responding regulatory support) would speed-up participation from the major actors of the critical value chains for the huge and ever-increasing investments required in the competitive globalised market. Strategic public-private partnerships should be rewarded, in which strong user industries share their long-term visions with research partners, and a critical mass of resources is mobilised in the most coherent possible way.

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