A common strand featured at this year's World Micromachine Summit: Nanotechnology. Almost all the presenters referred to the impact of, the fusion between and the implications of nanotechnology and microsystems on current and future applications.

  This remarkable change of emphasis could, possibly, become a milestone flagging the relative maturity of microtechnologies and the emergence of nanotechnology.

  The national/regional reports from across the world at this summit (The 8th held at Maastricht on the 1st and 2nd of May, 2002), provided updated accounts of programmes and developments since the last summit in 2001 at Freiburg.

  The review from the USA outlined examples of some of the relevant projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The various programmes and projects, currently being supported by these three bodies, tend to have a biotechnology trend emphasising the shift towards nano-biotechnology in the USA. In this context, the NSF has sponsored the formation of a National Nanofabrication Users Network (NNUN). With regards to MEMS/Microsystems, a number of Industry Groups have been established to serve a similar purpose. The trend towards developing optical and RF MEMS remains strong in spite of the downturn of the IT/Telecom Industry.

  The situation in the UK was summarised as also shifting in interest towards nanotechnology although MEMS remained predominant for commercial exploitation as evidenced by the increasing number of spin-offs and SMEs.

  In Taiwan, the completion of the 6th year of the national MEMS programme was marked by the successful operation of the MEMS Common Laboratory at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). MEMS is now deemed to be approaching maturity, prompting the National Science Council (NCS) of Taiwan to direct emphasis to nanotechnology through the (re)formation of the MEMS and Nanotechnology Advancement Team Program. Taiwan plans to invest approximately $600 million on nanotechnologies in the fields of micro-fuel cells, packaging and biotechnology. This programme of investment is scheduled to start the first quarter of 2003 and last until the year 2007.

  The review from Switzerland maintained a similar view with regards to the maturity of microtechnologies. This was demonstrated via "typically Swiss" commercial products such as wrist watches incorporating silcon-based, micromechanical, pressure sensors and cog wheels. New initiatives are planned to merge the fields of Nanotechnology and MST/MEMS.

  The situation in Singapore was reported to be less buoyant than was expected a year or so ago. The economic downturn, over the year, has, it was reported, led to a 20% cut in the funding made available for MEMS projects. None the less, a number of MEMS-based projects continue to be supported, including simulation and modelling work at the Institute of High Performance Computing amongst other institutions.

  The strong interest in biotechnology in the Nordic region of Europe has prompted the establishment of interdisciplinary research projects, collaborations and educational courses in addition to the ongoing programmes supporting microtechnologies. Norway, Finland, Sweden and Denmark all boast a fair number of new (or relatively new) start-ups offering either products or foundry services. In essence, commercialisation is taking its course.

  Mediterranean nations such as Spain, Greece and Italy reported a continuing effort in developing MST-based sensing systems in response to the industrial, agricultural and agroalimentary needs of these specific nations. A couple of new start-ups in Spain aiming to produce sensors for household appliances and food quality control were announced. In Greece, a newly established Network on Microsystems and Micro-Nanotechnology (MMN) was set up to promote the technology. In Italy, on the other hand, where microsystems technologies is well established, two new National Research programmes were launched in 2001, to address nanotechnologies and new materials as well as microsystems. Of note, in Italy, is the recent interest in developments relating to the electronic nose (e-nose) giving rise to 3 new start-up companies over the last year.

  The Korean national programme on microsystems continues to make progress as was outlined by the impressive results on developments of micro-biomedical diagnostic systems for endoscopic microcapsules. In parallel to this ambitious programme, the Korean government has launched a $1.4 billion programme on Nanotechnology (2001-2010). This national programme will address almost all aspects of nanotechnology which, along with Information Technology and Biotechnology forms one of the three most important technologies for the 21st Century identified by the Korean government.

  The 10 year long national "Micromachine" project in Japan was reported to have concluded its course successfully boasting the generation of over 500 patents and a number of commercial products as deliverables. Plans are, currently, being assessed for the launch of a national strategy for nanotechnology focussed on materials, processing, manufacturing and research.

   Activities in France continue to be underpinned by strong co-ordinating networks such as the French National Research Network in Micro and Nano-Technologies (RMNT) as well as the recently launched initiative for research and technology transfer, MINATEC, in Grenoble. MINATEC will provide education, training, research and facilities for high-tech industries aimed at supporting European Leadership in Micro and Nano-technologies. Finally, some "Colleges of Engineering" across France have begun to incorporate MEMS-related topics within their curricula. These topics include practical clean room processing and microfabrication techniques.

  MEMS/Microsystems developments in China were reported to have gained prominence following the results of a strategic study conducted by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. The study identified micro-sensors, information-MEMS and bio-MEMS as priorities with emphasis on MEMS fabrication and nanotechnology. Within 2001, alone, 6 conferences on MEMS were held in China. This year, another 8 conferences are planned. The technology seems also to be enjoying international prominence through a number of reported collaborative ventures aimed at commercialising some of the developments undertaken by research and academic establishments in China.

  University research by Canadian Universities was reported to be advancing in the fields of MOEMS and RF MEMS amongst other, more general, mechanical designs. Industrial activities, on the other hand, appears to be gearing towards productionisation through the establishment of MEMS-specific fabrication lines and foundries. These facilities will capitalise on the, impressively, large number of designs (in excess of 180) fabricated by Canadian Institutes since 1997.

  The situation in Belgium and the Netherlands with regards to MEMS developments was also indicative of the maturity of this technology. Major players, spanning academia, institutions and companies are focusing efforts on specific applications in the fields of bio-analysis and telecommunications. National Nanotechnology programmes have also been initiated to help galvanise the research in this new field of research.

  Finally, the Australian government has focussed nationally-funded research onto four priority areas: (1) Nano and bio materials, (2) Genome/Phenome research, (3) Complex/Intelligent Systems and (4) Photon science and technology. Microsystems research has, as a result, been directed to address these specific areas. In this context, and underlying this programme, are plans for national facilities including the Bandwidth Foundry for Photonic ICs, a 110 meters diameter synchrotron, the MiniFAB fabrication facility and a national network for nanostructural analysis (NANO). Such facilities as well as the national focus will, it was reported, help Australian institutions and industry exploit new opportunities offered by Nano and Microtechnology.