Essay

Micromachine Technology
Reaches a New Stage
Toshiro Shimoyama
Chairman,Micromachine Center

March 31, 2001 saw the conclusion of the decade-long
Micromachine Project, part of the Industrial Science andTechnology Frontier Program sponsored by the Ministryof Economy, Trade, and Industry. I would like to take thisopportunity to thank the many people from thegovernment, private industry, and academic sectors who
have been involved with the Project over the last ten
years in a research and/or surveying activity. I would also
like to extend my appreciation to all those at the Ministryof Economy, Trade and Industry (formerly the Ministry ofInternational Trade and Industry) in recognition of theirsupport for the Project.
When this Project was launched in 1991, Japan wasembroiled in commercial difficulties in the form of trade
friction over semiconductors, as well as criticism that itwas "freeloading" by benefiting unfairly from the research
investment of other nations. The Micromachine Project
was an attempt to give Japan an independent research
capacity in this area via a completely new approach toresearch that had never been tried elsewhere. The firstphase involved identifying key technology concepts bydeveloping element technology predicated on the idea ofmachines at the micro level, once the sole preserve ofscience fiction (such as the movie Fantastic Voyage). The
second phase involved the study of systematization
technology for integrating the various forms of element
technology into machine systems. Overall, the Project was
remarkably successful, generating some 530 patentapplications and 1,500 research publication papers andpresentations (mainly to academic societies).
The Micromachine Project attracted considerable
interest from overseas, particularly with respect to its
unique approach to industrial research. Many academic
groups came to Japan to see the Project. Researchers andexperts in Japan and overseas were most impressed. Inaddition, the Project enjoyed extensive coverage in theworldwide media and became well known in wider society.
Last year's Exhibition MICROMACHINE 2000, whichfeatured broadcasts of an experimental prototype systemon five programs (including one from the publicbroadcaster NHK), was the first important step in
addressing the national problem of the continuing drift ofyoung people away from science subjects. Despite the ten
years lost to the continuing economic downturn, theMicromachine Project has brought Japan closer to theideals of micromachine technology, which is expected toplay a central role in the basic "manufacturing" technology
in 21st century.
The Micromachine Center (MMC) was established at
the same time as the Micromachine Project with the aimof promoting the technology and providing informationworldwide via a range of initiatives. With the conclusion of
the Project, micromachine technology has reached a newstage. The first task for us now is to speed up the processof refining the technology to create viable industrial
applications. Many other nations, inspired by the work ofthe Project, are building the necessary infrastructure fordesign, prototype trials, and production for thedevelopment and manufacturing of MEMS. Meanwhile,
the MMC is working on practical development in thetechnology field created through the fusion of
micromachine technology and the advantages of MEMS.
The second task is to take up the challenge presented by
new research areas within the context of nano-technology
development around the world.
The nano-technology represents the great unexplored
field and the most important branch of technology in the21st century. This was acknowledged last year when thenpresident Bill Clinton announced a budgetary allocation of$500 million towards nano-technology development.
Nano-technology is a genuinely revolutionary area
involving the manipulation of materials at the atomic andmolecular level to enable, for instance, the manufacture ofmaterials that are lightweight yet ten times stronger thansteel and the detection of cancer cells at a very earlystage. But even the most spectacularly advanced nanotechnology is not truly useful unless it is complemented
by a human interface that appeals intuitively to our basic
senses-in other words, human-sized technology isrequired as well. Micromachine technology provides thebridge, the vital link between nano-technology andhuman-sized technology. The Micromachine Center iscommitted to pursuing viable industrial applications for
micromachine technology (as described above), while also
working to further refine and integrate micromachinetechnology into nano-technology fields.
The Micromachine Center looks forward to yourcontinued patronage and support in the years to come.

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