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Program
accelerates the development of micro- and nanotechnology
Richardson, Texas (October 9, 2002)
Zyvex Corporation today announced
the addition of Honeywell International, Inc. to an existing
$25 million, five-year, cost-shared NIST (National Institute
of Standards and Technology) Advanced Technology Program.
Under this program, Zyvex and Honeywell will work with university
collaborators from the University of Texas at Dallas and the
University of Virginia to accelerate the production and commercialization
of low-cost assemblers for micro- and nanoscale components
and subsystems.
The NIST-ATP project, which began in October 2001, is initially
developing prototype microscale assemblers using microelectromechanical
systems (MEMS), and will then extend these capabilities to
nanometer geometries to develop nanoelectromechanical systems
(NEMS) for prototype nanoscale assemblers. The program is
structured to develop systems which provide highly parallel
microassembly and nanoassembly for real-world, high-volume
applications. Zyvex proposed the NIST-ATP project in order
to accelerate the technical, economic, and societal benefits
of nanotechnology and to assist the United States in establishing
a leadership position in the emerging nanotechnology arena.
“We are very pleased to have Honeywell on our program
team,” said Jim Von Ehr, Founder, President, and CEO
of Zyvex. “Honeywell Defense and Space Systems (D&SS)
Redmond, Washington is a leading-edge development and fabrication
facility. They bring capabilities to the program that are
instrumental in achieving our aggressive goals.”
Under the current program, Zyvex
is designing, testing, and characterizing microelectromechanical
systems (MEMS) and developing software for MEMS design, verification,
visualization, and simulation. In later program years, Zyvex
will design nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) and create
assembled nanosystems.
Honeywell D&SS Redmond will
develop microscale fabrication processes and provide MEMS
foundry services. Honeywell’s role will evolve in later
years into nanoscale fabrication processes and NEMS foundry
services.
The team is developing capabilities for heterogeneous assembly
for applications including medical (microsurgical tools, drug
delivery, in-vitro diagnostics, biological and chemical sensors),
optical assemblies, telecommunications (MEMS tunable capacitors,
microinductors, and microrelays), consumer electronics, and
microfluidics. There are also potential applications for defense
and space needs.
The NIST-ATP’s goal is to bridge the gap between the
research lab and the marketplace by stimulating prosperity
through innovation. Through partnerships with the private
sector, ATP’s early stage investment accelerates the
development of innovative technologies that promise significant
commercial payoffs and widespread benefits for the nation.
As part of the highly regarded National Institute of Standards
and Technology, the ATP provides a mechanism for industry
to extend its technological reach, thereby extending the envelope
of what can be attempted.
Zyvex is the first molecular nanotechnology
company. Its mission is to become the leading worldwide supplier
of tools, products, and services that enable adaptable, affordable,
molecularly precise manufacturing. It was started in mid-1997
with the goal of building the key enabling tool for creating
molecular nanotechnology — the assembler. This type of
device is expected to revolutionize manufacturing by building
atomically-precise materials and machines cost-effectively
and efficiently. The privately held company is engaged in
research and development of molecular nanotechnology, developing
three key technologies for the field: mechanochemistry, nanopositioning,
and system design.
Honeywell offers the MEMS industry its impressive MEMS experience
and comprehensive MEMS expertise through its MEMS plus! Services.
The firm provides services ranging from single process steps
in a state-of-the-art MEMS foundry, to full turnkey product
development from design concept through production, processing,
testing and packaging. By using a team approach, Honeywell
Redmond provides each design the benefit of its collective
MEMS expertise and advanced processing techniques including
advising on design optimization for ease of production and
applying “Six Sigma” improvement tools at all phases
of product development. An entire suite of MEMS tools for
the development process — from production through applications
— is available for either 4-inch or 6-inch wafer sizes.
ATP provides funding to industry, non-profits and universities
to help advance particularly challenging, high-risk research
and development projects that have the potential to spark
important, broad-based economic or social benefits for the
United States. The program supports projects that industry
cannot fully fund on its own because of significant technical
risks or limited resources. ATP awards are made on the basis
of rigorous competitive review considering scientific and
technical merit of each proposal and its potential benefits
to the U.S. economy.
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