Overview of MMC's Activities in Fiscal 2002
I.

administrative trends)(4) Database construction and data management system
operations
3. Exchange and Cooperation with Worldwide Organizations
Involved with Micromachines (partially subsidized by theactivities to help promote the machine industry)(1) Participating in the 8th Micromachine Summit and holding
overseas seminars

Basic Objective of Activities

MMC's basic objectives in FY 2002 are to actively disseminate information
on micromachines from Japan as in the previous fiscal year, to engage intechnical issues regarding the fusion of micro- and nanotechnologies, and topromote the further industrialization of micromachines.

II. Description of Primary Activities
1. Investigations and Research on Micromachines
Planned activities include spurring on the rapid development of
micromachine technology, gaining a clear understanding of the trends intechnologies and industries, and conducting investigations and research on
new technological issues regarding the fusion of micro- and nanotechnologies.

We will take part in the 8th Micromachine Summit to be held at
Maastricht in the Netherlands and hold a joint seminar with local research
institutes in Europe, with the cooperation of JETRO and others.

(1) Studies on the prospects for the future of micromachinetechnology(2) Holding symposiums on micromachine technology (partiallysubsidized by the activities to help promote the machineindustry)

While we anticipate the industrialization of micromachine technologies
that have been developed thus far, from a technological perspective we mustalso strive toward further miniaturization in this new technological system ofmicromachines. From an applications perspective, MMC is pursuing thefusion of micromachine technologies with technologies in other fields, such as
medical care and biotechnology. Hence, studies on the prospects ofmicromachines are being implemented while conducting endeavors fromvarious angles.

This year we will hold the 8th International Micromachine andNanotechnology Symposium (provisional name) with an added topic on thefusion of micromachine technology with nanotechnology.

(3) Dispatches Overseas and Exchange with Researchers
Promotion of exchange through the dispatch of research missions
overseas and information exchanges with universities and research institutes
involved in micromachines.

(2) Studies on the R & D trend of micromachine technology inJapan and abroad(4) Constructing a foundry network system (currently
requested as part of commissioned activities to help
promote the machine industry)

Developing basic technological data to aid in developing micromachinetechnologies.

To structure enterprises providing a foundry service for engaging in theconstruction of a system aimed at improving service provision through anetwork.

(3) Investigation and research on basic and sprout
micromachine technologies

4. Standardization of Micromachines(1) Creation of an international standard as a method forevaluating the properties and measuring methods of thinfilm materials.
(2) Investigation and research on micromachine standardization

Studies in the current fiscal year will be a continuation of the previous
year's studies in the fields of cell manipulation and nano-optics.

(4) Studies on the construction of a system for estimating themicromachine market
Studies in the current fiscal year entail determining methods forconstructing a system and summarizing statistics.

This fiscal year MMC will hold an international forum/workshop in Tokyoin July.

(5) Investigation and research on scale interface(commissioned activities to help promote the machineindustry)

5. Dissemination and Education about Micromachines(1) The quarterly magazine "MICROMACHINE" will be
published periodically and distributed to those involved in
the field, and will also be provided on the Internet website.
(2) Conduct activities for disseminating information andeducating the public about micromachines, including adrawing contest in which elementary and junior high school
students draw pictures of micromachines.
(3) Hold the 13th Micromachine Exhibition.
(4) Serve as secretariat for the Federation of MicromachineTechnology to link and strengthen micromachine-relatedorganizations.

From the perspective of scale interface, MMC will study the trends ofoptical devices in demand for next-generation optical communications andevaluate the sophisticated functionality possible by fusing micromachine andnanotechnologies.

2. Collection and Provision of Micromachine Information(1) Maintaining and upgrading the MMC library (to promote
the storage of information in a database)(2) Publication of a micromachine periodical (issuing"Micromachine Index")(3) Publication of a newsletter (including data on research andTOPICSMEMS 2002 Report
The IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro
Mechanical Systems (MEMS) is an annual event, held by turns inJapan, the Unites States, and Europe. MEMS 2002 (The Fifteenth
IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro MechanicalSystems) was held at the MGM Grand Hotel (Las Vegas, USA)between January 20 and 24, 2002. For the first time, conference
attendance exceeded 700, and the number of applications also
increased from last year, from 395 to 454, to a record high.
Although the number of oral presentations was 41, the same as inprevious years, the increase in applications resulted in a 30%
increase in the number of poster presentations, to 134. However,this year's conference continued the organizational practice ofsingle-presentation sessions, discussions took place in a single
conference hall packed with more than 700 people. Because ofthis, although I found the presentations themselves to besignificant from the perspective of sharing technical information,
constant murmuring throughout the conference hall created an
atmosphere at odds with intense research debate.
There was an increased number of presentations related to

the fields of Optical MEMS/Devices, Bio-MEMS, and Microfluidics, showing that research and development in IT- and Biorelated fields is continuing to expand. In particular, there was anotable increase in the number of presentations by speakers fromKorea, Taiwan, and China that
dealt with IT-related topics,including RF/Wireless.
The city of Las Vegas(where the conference washeld) was dotted with
Disneyland-like attractions there was even an "EiffelTower" at the Paris Las Vegas
hotel(pictured).
My
impression was of a citywhere, with the time and themoney, you could enjoy
yourself to the full.

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