The EPFL School of engineering is proudly hosting the Instituteof Microengineering that continues a tradition of excellence inresearch, teaching and technology transfer. The field ofmicroengineering at the crossroad of different disciplines is avery unique educational and research academic activity. Thecompetences developed are highly sought after by industries inSwitzerland and abroad. The recent addition of the Neuchâtelsite and the excellent industrial relationships existing there areextra assets on which to further develop the EPFL leadership inthat field.

WELCOME

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Professor Demetri PsaltisDean School of Engineering

As of January 2009, High-Tech research institutions andindustry have access to a new and unique center of education,research and innovation: the Institute of Microengineering (IMT)within the School of Engineering at EPFL. Twenty-four researchgroups and 500 co-workers combine their strengths and skillsto take on the extraordinary variety of today’s challenges. Theyare creating the scientific breakthroughs that will be the basisof tomorrow’s microengineering.

Partners of this new institute have the unique opportunity tolaunch multidisciplinary projects. They participate in an efficientprocess linking fundamental research with industrial realities inan integrated and professional manner. Finally, they benefit fromall the scientific and technological skills of EPFL, from the closecollaborations between the IMT and applied researchinstitutions such as the CSEM SA (Swiss Center for Electronicsand Microtechnology) and the HES-SO (University of AppliedSciences, Western Switzerland) as well as technology transfersplatforms such as PSE, EPFL’s Science Park.

Professor Nico de Rooij, Director of the IMT“IMT has worldwide collaborations with academic

and industrial partners”

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NASA’s Phoenix mission, which landed on Marson May 26, 2008, had on board an AtomicForce Microscope (AFM) developed at IMT incollaboration with the Institute of Physics of theUniversity of Basel and Nanosurf SA, able tocharacterize samples at nanometer accuracy.The first image of a Martian dust particle,captured with the AFM on August 14, 2008,confirmed the complete success of themicroscope.

This voice-controlled watch-dictaphone for automatic data captureand medical codification simplifies the administrative work of healthcare professionals.The waterproof watch has a tactile and a voice-controlledinterface for hands-free operation, and up to 3 hours of voice andsurrounding sounds recording autonomy with crystal clear quality.Developed in collaboration with ASULAB, a division of SwatchGroup R&D Ltd, and Axiome Alpha SA, the watch is designed for low power consumption.IMT was in charge of the development and implementation of the Digital Signal Processing (DSP) functions.

AFM MICROSCOPE

VOICE-CONTROLLED WATCH-DICTAPHONE

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Professor Juergen Brugger, Vice-Director of the IMT“Microengineering has a wide range of sciences

and technology at its disposal. It is at the crossroadsof discovery, innovation and technology”

Microengineering is by essence a multidisciplinary field,requiring knowledge in fields as diverse as physics, chemistry,biology, optics, material science, mechanics, robotics,electronic engineering and information technology.The Microengineering curriculum at EPFL offers education inall the above fields, allowing research groups and partners ofthe IMT to access expertise and have fruitful exchanges in allthese various domains.IMT is based on three pillars: Micro and Nanotechnologies,Optics and Photonics, and Robotics and Micro Manufacturing. Within these pillars our already proven know-how is furtherdeveloped in a large variety of domains that span precisionengineering down to the micrometer and nanometer scale. Our activities include the development of devices and microcomponents and their integration into functional microsystemsand machines that can be applied in fields such as health,security and the environment, medical devices,communications, space applications, the watch industry, and many others.

MICROENGINEERING: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD

THE IMT IS BASED ON THREE PILLARS

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IMT researchers have designed a new robot based on the Deltakinematics in collaboration with Unimec SA and -Moveit SA.This extremely stiff parallel robot is specifically adapted to

the pressing of pins for micro-engineering applications, requiredfor micro-assembly tasks in the watch industry.The industrial version of this dynamic robot is able to press 1000 pins per hour with depth precision of less than 8 microns.

ROBOT

The DDT663 silicon pressure sensor is a further example of afruitful collaboration between IMT and industry. It can achievedifferential or absolute measurements. The pressure measurementis carried out by a silicon chip, which is glued and bonded to analuminum substrate. On the opposite face, the electronic circuitwith an IC allows numerical sensor calibration and temperaturecompensation. The sensitive part is encapsulated in a protectiveresin.

SENSOR

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Professor Yves Perriard, Vice-Director of the IMT“Our strength lies in our capacity to bring

a new idea from its first expression upto an industrial prototype”

IMT has extensive experience collaborating with industrialpartners. Researchers at IMT are active in all stages of theinnovation process, from fundamental academic research to pre-industrial prototyping. In addition, IMT offers manycollaborations and partnership opportunities, such ascharacterization of new products, optimization of newprocesses, and development for new applications.At an early stage, a liaison officer assists interested companiesin finding the best suited laboratory for conducting the researchproject, and helps define the most suitable mode ofcollaboration and an adapted funding scheme.

When a new project is launched, Master’s and PhD students areoften involved in the research and development tasks. Thesestudents may become ideal candidates for jobs within thepartner company. EPFL has developed an intellectual property strategy thatenables our partners to rapidly launch a new product into the market.The large number of successful collaborations with industriesactive in fields as diverse as biomedical systems, watch industry,spatial exploration, global positioning systems, security, orenergy production testifies to our capacity to bridge the gapbetween fundamental research and industrial production.

IMT: YOUR PRIVILEGED PARTNER FOR DEVELOPMENTPROJECTS

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SENSIMED SA and IMT have developed a novel approach tointraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, allowing continuousmonitoring over prolonged periods, regardless of patient positionand activities. The key element of this innovative approach is a soft contact lens with an integrated MEMS strain gauge. The Contact Lens Sensor (CLS) allows the measurement of the cornea deformation due to IOP changes.As the system is positioned on the eye exactly in the same way as a corrective contact lens, no anesthesia is required and patientvision remains almost unimpaired. A telemetry microprocessorand an antenna are also embedded into the CLS for wirelesspower and data transfer.

CONTACT LENS

IMT researchers also specialize in fabrication processes foramorphous and microcrystalline silicon. Based on our know-howand processes we have developed, several industries are nowstarting mass production of amorphous and micromorph low costphotovoltaic modules. In particular, IMT’s work in this fieldresulted in the creation of two startups: Flexcell SA, whichproduces flexible modules, and Oerlikon Solar SA, which producesproduction equipment for amorphous and micromorph modules.

AMORPHOUS AND MICROMORPH

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THE IMT500 Collaborators18 Laboratories24 Professors200 Ph.D. Students450 Students (Bachelor + Master)

IMT laboratories are located on two sites: on the EPFL campusin Lausanne, and in Neuchâtel. This unique situation offersmore flexibility for our partners and places our laboratories inthe heart of the Microengineering and Biomedical Industrieseconomic environment.

Each site develops expertise in different fields, and in a different environment. This is an asset in terms of relationswith other institutions: strong links are developed with otherresearch institutions based in Lausanne and Neuchâtel, suchas CSEM in Neuchâtel, the Energy Center or the EPFL’s Schoolof Life Sciences in Lausanne.The main site in Lausanne hosts teaching, and developsactivities in close relationship with EPFL’s School ofEngineering. Neuchâtel develops activities for greenindustrialization, as well as strong links with the industrialcommunity. This domain of activity is growing rapidly.

ABOUT IMT

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EPFL is one of the two Ecoles Polytechniques Fédérales inSwitzerland. It has three missions: education, research andtechnology transfer at the highest international level.In its idyllic location on the shores of Lake Geneva, EPFL bringstogether a campus of more than 10,000 people. By its novelstructure, the school stimulates collaboration between students,professors, researchers and entrepreneurs, giving rise to new andgroundbreaking work in science and technology. Currently rankedamong Europe’s best universities, EPFL is an ideal partner forforward-looking companies. In recent years, EPFL has expanded itsfocus to the life sciences and management.

ABOUT EPFL

EPFL supports innovation by

• Attracting leading industries on the campus to foster innovation,technology transfer and knowledge exchange.

• Hosting Alliance, a Swiss initiative grouping several Swissuniversities in order to facilitate contact between regionalindustries and research institutes.

• Stimulating the transfer of research outcomes to the economythrough its Industrial Relations and Technology Transfer offices.

• Offering a network of expertise and grants tailored to thefinancial and technical needs of invention as well as to itsmanagement.

• Supporting multidisciplinary research initiatives that encompassthe expertise of several leading EPFL laboratories.

• Hosting the Science Park foundation that offers office and lab spacefor private companies wishing to establish themselves close to EPFLin order to reinforce technology transfer and knowledge exchange.

Early identification of the most talentedengineers is a privilege of industrial partners.

IMT researchers have access to EPFL’s clean room facilities suchas photolithography, e-beam writing, AFM, SEM, TEM or DRIE, whichallow them develop products with industrial standards.

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