MemsONE Dissemination and Use
MEMS System Development Center
The MemsONE Project was initiated in FY 2004
with the goal of creating a software infrastructure tosupport the promotion and development of MEMS
industries. The project ended in FY 2006 with theachievement of a beta version of MemsONE. An effort
was made to ensure widespread dissemination ofMemsONE throughout Japan during the term of theproject.
Accordingly, a project to disseminate theachievements of the MemsONE Project wascommissioned by the New Energy and Industrial
Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Theproject has been renewed for this fiscal year as welland is currently underway. In order to establish aninfrastructure for dissemination, the project is placing
special emphasis on the following four efforts:

more than 400 licenses are in use. To distribute thebeta version, various types of email messages weresent to relevant entities. In addition, the beta wasreleased on the Committee’s website and wasexhibited at Exhibition Micromachine / MEMS and theInternational Robotics Exhibition. A video was also
used to introduce MemsONE functions, and the beta
version was further publicized through the use ofpanel exhibitions and the distribution of pamphlets. As
a result, the goal of at least 450 licenses is expected tobe achieved.
With regard to topic 3), technical support for users
with regard to operational procedures and analysis isthought to be indispensable in order to ensure
widespread dissemination of MemsONE throughout
Japan. The most effective type of user support is theholding of workshops with an environment in which
the beta version is already installed on multiple PCs.
This beta version installed on actual PCs is used toprovide guidance to users regarding GUI operations
and analysis procedures. It is hoped that such handson workshops will help disseminate the project’sachievements. In order to hold these workshops, aclassroom with at least 30 PCs was needed, and thiswas made possible through the provision of classrooms
at the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University. Threecourses were prepared – a basic course and Applied Aand B courses – and the courses have been held since
July; plans call for the courses to be held six times at
the University of Tokyo and four times at Kyoto
University. The courses so far have been attended by
130 persons, and judging from survey results thecourses seem to have been effective. Moreover, inaddition to these regular workshops, two workshops
have been held at the request of other institutions inwhich the students (60 in all) brought their own PCs,
and this has also helped to expand the number of
MemsONE beta version users.

1) Activities to disseminate the MemsONE beta version

Widespread distribution of the MemsONE betaversion (achieved by the MemsONE Project) to users
in Japan, in order to secure users, determine userneeds and the status of use, and reflect the results infuture dissemination activities
2) Improvement and enhancement of MemsONE functions

Improvement and enhancement of those functions
whose improvement is a matter of particular urgency,
based on the results of the dissemination study andthe evaluation survey of the alpha version (the version
distributed as the midterm project achievement)
3) Achievement dissemination and user support activities

Provision of user assistance in the form of hands-on
regular workshops and seminars, held primarily inmajor metropolitan areas(User assistance regarding operational andtechnical aspects of the beta version is seen as
essential for the dissemination of project
achievements.)
4) Study activities for purposes of dissemination

Establishment of foundry services as
manufacturing centers that can take the place of
manufacturing equipment (which entails a large initialinvestment burden) in order to achieve widespreaddissemination of MemsONE and effect a broad-based
expansion of MEMS industries

It is hoped that the promotion of these topics will
have a beneficial impact on future productdevelopment. Accordingly, the topics will be promotedwith care and energy.

With regard to topic 1), distribution of the beta
version began in early June, and the beta has been
introduced to companies, universities and research
institutions and in publicly-run trials and so on. So far,

For inquiries regarding MemsONE, please contact
the MemsONE Support Center:
TEL(+81) 3-5835-1870
Email mems1-user@mmc.or.jp

Micromachine Exhibition

Hands-On Workshop (held at The University of Tokyo)

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